The western roots of modern same-sex relationships.

Same-Sex Desire and Love in GrecoRoman Antiquity and in the Classical Tradition of the West, Edited by Beert C. Verstraete & Vernon Provencal. New York: Huntington Park Press, 2006, 491 pages. Cloth, $69.95; Paper, $49.95.

In 14 chapters, this edited volume summarizes and expands scholarship about same-sex desire, primarily in the classic period, but some essays focus on later periods. It could become the definitive work on this topic. The study of such relationships has been a long and somewhat difficult journey, in large part because of inhibitions of scholars and censorship by society.

The heroes of Greek society during its period of greatest intellectual glory were men who exercised nude together in gymnasia and dined and drank without women present. The art produced during this period was dominated by the male nude, usually idealized and even sensualized. Same-sex relationships were an important part of Greek society. In spite of this, from the Renaissance on, Greek literature became the cornerstone of classical education, particularly in England and Germany (less so in Italy and France where Roman influence seemed to be more important).

Although same-sex relationships were difficult to ignore, most writers about the period managed to do so. As more investigative studies began in 18th century German-speaking areas, the first serious study of the topic by Glukas Himeros appeared in 1767. His book was in Latin, although it had quotations from the Greeks embedded throughout. This rather devious practice kept information about same-sex relationships confined to a few dedicated readers. Only gradually did information about same-sex relationships begin to spread. Particularly important in this regard was the serious study, again in German-speaking areas, of Greek statuary, vase painting, and other art work where homoerotic themes were common.

German scholarship on homosexuality was picked up gradually by the English and others. As the Greek works were translated into English, themes dealing with same-sex love were often left untranslated so that even though the full story might be known by the scholar, public information on same-sex relationships remained limited. Still, in Germany, gay scholars attempted to publicize the existence of same-sex relationships during that earlier period. For example, Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825-1895), who began the agitation to make homosexuality legal, used a number of classical sources to back up his claim for the legitimacy of same-sex love. Magnus Hirscfeld (1868-1935) went further by encouraging research in his journal devoted to the study of homosexuality as well as in his monumental work on Homosexuality of Men and Women (1914). Picking up from the German studies was the English defender of homosexuality, John Addington Symonds, who privately and cautiously published 10 copies of his A Problem in Greek Ethics. Other bootleg copies were published without his name attached. Still, when popular translations of Greek classics were published in English (such as by the Loeb library) passages dealing with homosexuality were usually censored. If not, such passages were translated into Latin so only scholars could be aware of the widespread existence of "Greek" love.

It was not until after World War II that serious study into the topic began in the English-speaking world. This current volume is the best example of such studies so far. The best way to illustrate the scope of current studies is to list the contributors and the title of their research articles: After a brief introduction by the two editors, William Armstrong Percy III writes on "Reconsiderations About Greek Homosexualities." This is followed by Thomas F. Scanlon, "The Dispersion of Pederasty and the Athletic Revolution in Sixth Century B.C. Greece;" Vernon Provencal, "Glukus Himeros: Pederastic Influence on the Myth of Ganymede"; Thomas Hubbard, "Pindar's Tenth Olympian and Athlete-Trainer Pederasty"; Charles Hupperts, "Boeotian Swine: Homosexuality in Boeotia," and Anne L. Linck, "Sleeping in the Bosom of a Tender Companion: Homoerotic Attachments in Sappho." Carrying through the discussion of same sex relationships beyond Greece is James L. Butricia, "Some Myths and Anomalies in the Study of Roman Sexuality"; John R. Clarke, "Representations of Cinaedus [an adult male who liked to be penetrated by another male] in Roman Art"; Beert C. Verstraete, "The Versatility of Tibulus' Marathus Elegies", Armando Maggi, "On Kissing and Sighting: Renaissance Homoerotic Love"; Wayne R. Dynes, "How German Classical Philology Engendered Gay Scholarship"; John Lauritsen, "Hellenism and Homoerotcism in Shelly and His Circle"; D, H. Mader, "The Greek Mirror: The Uranians and Their Use of Greece," and Amy Richlin, "Eros Underground: Greece and Rome in Gay Print Culture."

Although the articles in this collection presuppose some historical background, the ordinary reader who is interested could certainly get the main points of each article. For anyone interested in the development of same-sex relationships in Western civilization, this would be a good place to begin. The book is heavily footnoted, has an index of names and terms, a table of abbreviations, a general index, and what is called an index locorum (an index of classical sources).

REFERENCES

Hirschfeld, M. (1914, 2000). The Homosexuality of men and women, translated by Michael Lombardi-Nash, introduction by Vern L. Bullough. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books.

Ulrichs, K. H. (1864-1880, 1994), The Riddle of "Man-manly Love, " translated by Michael Lombardi-Nash, introduction by Vern L. Bullough. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books.

Reviewed by Vern L. Bullough, Ph.D. (Deceased), 3304 West Sierra Drive, Westlake Village, CA, 91362; e-mail: [e-mail].