Exploring 2SLGBTQiA+ Love in Greek Mythology
We’ve all heard a tale or two from Greek Mythology, whether it is one of the many tales of the one and only Zeus, the king of gods, or the epic saga of Hercules. However, what many might not know, is that Greek mythology has plenty of depictions of 2SLGBTQiA+ love stories. Let’s look at some of the intricate legends that you might not have heard
The Longstanding Popularity of Greek Mythology
We can clearly see that Greek Mythology is still popular, even though it was created thousands of years ago. The best way to see its ongoing demand is through the entertainment industry, such as TV shows, movies, and books.
Even industries like the online casino sector have drawn inspiration from them. One example, is they have a daily jackpot with games like Ancient Fortunes Poseidon Megaways and Temple of Medusa, directly inspired by Greek Mythology. So, you get something traditional, like slot games with a jackpot, that are filled with Grecian motifs and music.
Another way to see it is how people flock to Greece to see their attractions, most of them are associated with Greek mythology. In 2023 alone, over 36 million tourists came in, as per Statista. In fact, the Greek government had to limit the number of visitors to places like the Acropolis of Athens to 20000 as Artnet News advised.
Homoerotic Themes in Greek and Roman Mythology
Greco-Roman mythology includes many myths featuring male homosexuality, cross-dressing, and androgyny, now often grouped under the acronym LGBTQ+.
These myths have significantly influenced Western LGBT literature. The original stories are frequently republished and rewritten, and the characters and relationships have become icons. In contrast, lesbian relationships are rarely depicted in classical myths.
Apollo, the god of the sun and music, is considered a patron of same-sex love due to his many male lovers. He was often invoked to bless homosexual unions and is called "the champion of male love" by Andrew Callimach, an author known for his work on ancient Greek mythology and its connections to LGBTQ+ themes. Other gods, like Aphrodite and the Erotes (Eros, Himeros, and Pothos), are also associated with homosexual love between males. Eros, along with Heracles and Hermes, played roles in homoerotic relationships, representing beauty and loyalty, strength, and eloquence, respectively. In Sappho's poetry, Aphrodite is identified as the patron of lesbians.
Stories of 2SLGBTQiA+ Love in Greek Mythology
Although some may state that 2SLGBTQiA+ love is a modern notion, Greek Mythology openly disproves this with thousand-year-old tales. We’ll start this off with the tale of Achilles and Patroclus, most notably depicted in Homer’s Illiad. While in his version, they weren’t clearly depicted as lovers, in the archaic and classical periods of Greek literature they were depicted as being together.
Then we have an intricate love triangle between Apollo, the god of the sun, Thamyris, a male Thracian singer, and Hyakinthos, a Spartan prince who caught the eye of many due to his remarkable beauty. Thamyris fell in love with Hyakinthos, who ultimately chose Apollo over him and everyone else.
The final tale is that of Iphis and Ianthe. Iphis was born female but raised as a male due to her mother hiding her gender to save her from her husband who wished for a son. Iphis’ father arranged her marriage, but it ended up being a love match. The problem lies in the fact that Ianthe was unaware of Iphis’ actual gender.
Their gender-hiding ruse would be eventually discovered after the wedding, thus together with her mother, they went to the temple of Isis, where they prayed and made offerings to receive any help they could for their desperate situation. In the end, Iphis gets transformed into a man and proceeds with the wedding to his beloved.
Greek mythology offers a surplus of beautiful, and often tragic, tales of love between all genders. The inclusivity it showcases is proof that these tales have always had a place in history and should continue to do so. Even in 2024, we can still learn valuable lessons about acceptance, and that love truly knows no boundaries and doesn’t conform to societal norms.