Daniel N. Brewer

2/26/2002

Love Between Men: In response to L. Keyte

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ In his essay on male homoerotic relations in ancient Athens, Keyte seeks to elucidate the complexities of benefits and politics.Ê His argument is well phrased and bases itself solidly in the ancient text of the Symposium. In fact, it would be difficult to find fault with his argument. This essay will not attempt to do that; instead it will endeavor to bring the opinions and works of Hesiod to bear on Keyte?s discussion.

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ It becomes quickly clear, when reading the works of Hesiod, that he would agree with Keyte?s conclusions about male homoeroticism. Though he never speaks explicitly about homoeroticism, he does speak quite extensively about the dangers and woes of marriage to women. In Works and Days Hesiod states, ?Do not be deceived by a woman who wags her tail / as she chatters sweetly with a greedy eye on your possessions. / You trust a thief when you trust a woman.? (Hesiod: WD, 373-375). There is no mention whatsoever about women as virtuous. Hesiod does not suggest that the best thing for a man is to find a virtuous woman and have an intellectual love for her. Instead, he says,

??Zeus who roars on high made women / to be an evil for mortal men, helpmates in deeds of harshness. ?even the man who does marry / and has a wife of sound and prudent mind / spends his life trying to balance / the bad and the good in her. ?Ê (Hesiod: Th, 600-610)

Where Pausanias says that the best thing for a man is to find a virtuous lover (Plato, 178c), Hesiod says that the best thing one can hope for from a woman is for her not to destroy you. Where Keyte quotes Pausanias speaking about the wonders of mutually beneficial relationships of love and intellect, Hesiod says that a man must, ?Marry a virgin so you can teach her right from wrong.? (Hesiod: WD, 699). Hesiod?s women need instruction, need teaching of right from wrong. Hesiod?s women are non-damaging at best. Pausanias? men gain intellect and a true understanding of right and wrong from natural growth. Pausanias says that boys will reach, ??the age at which intelligence begins to form, which more or less coincides with when they begin to grow a beard.? (Plato, 181d) and from this will learn, naturally the difference between right and wrong.

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ And so Hesiod, a significant voice of ancient Greece, agrees with Keyte?s conclusions about the words of Pausanias and Phaedras. Though he speaks only of men with women, those words are not positive. Before women came, he says, men were happy. And who else would they be happy with before the coming of women when men had to learn how to ?balance the good and the bad? than with other men?

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ So here is more evidence, this time from the religious/mythological writings, in favor of Keyte?s interpretation. Indeed, there seems to be little if any evidence for any other conclusion about the value and feelings about homoerotic relations in classical Athens.

Key:

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Hesiod

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ TH: TheogenyÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ WD: Works and Days

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Plato

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Symposium