My obsession towards Greek comes in many ways. Forget about draperies of the fabric they wore, the mesmerizing hairstyles, Perfection of their Gods bodies. Greece was one of the earliest civilized country and I'm so interested in the way they presents their art without feeling sorry exposing nudity in a best way. Since I was a kid, I've never thought their nude statues or paintings as a pornography. I still haven't found the answer is it because of the perfection of the execution or the amazingly great body they captured. From what I know, in their golden era I've heard a lot of same-sex relationship stories which becomes legendary. And I can't imagine if I live in that era, having affair with some statue-esque bodied male. And by that I'm doing a little idle research about the histories of their Gods and other myths that having homosexual tendencies. Oh not all of the stories are Greek some of them are from different eras and areas.
Apollo and Hyacinthus
This is actually the most common known gay story between the Gods. Apollo is the God of light and knowledge, Who's having a relationship with his lover Hyacinth. Hyacinth is a divine hero with handsome face that admired by Zephyr, God of the wind. It was the time when Hyacinth and Apollo throwing discus, Hyacinth tried to catch it to impress Apollo but in a jealous rage, Zephyr blew the discus and hit Hyacinth, injured and died. Apollo didn't allow Hades, God of the dead, to claim the boy but make a flower out of his spilled blood with a stained on its petal by the tears of Apollo. It's a romantic elegy between two love birds who can't be unite not because the difference of God and human, but rage and jealousy.
Hermaphrodite
Surprisingly, the name Hermaphrodite is derived from the name of his parents "Hermes" and "Aphrodite". The myth behind is quite unique. Hermaphrodite was born as a handsome boy. He bored with his life and travel to the woods of Caria until he met a Naiad nymph called Salmacis in her pool. Salmacis drove crazy by the lust for the boy and try to seduce him but he rejected(from this story I can conclude that Hermaphroditus is homosexual for rejecting her seduction). When he thought her to be gone, he undress and come into the empty pool. He doesn't know the pool can turn any men who bath in it became soft and effeminate. Salmacis jump out from behind the tree,forcibly kiss and touch him. She wrapped her legs around him and pray to be united him forever. God answer her prayer and they become one form "creature of both sexes".
Achilles and Patroclus
This one is quite controversial. Many people consider their relationship as a platonic love and friendship only. Even though I personally believed it's possible to find a romantic relation between them. Achilles was a Greek hero of Trojan war and greatest warrior of Homer's Lliad. Lliad is where he met Patroclus. They both great warrior who mostly fight for the city-state or personal fame but in the Lliad, Achilles fight for Patroclus. After Patroclus dies, Achilles lamenting and having a deeply mourn and touching his dead body. Achilles turn from strong and unbreakable into emotional and vulnerable character. He even took revenge by killing Patroclus' killer even though it would cost him his life.
Alexander the Great and Hephaestion
Almost having the similar story, the relation between Alexander and Hephaestion relates to war and heroic actions. Hephaestion is Alexander's childhood best friend and even from this early age he's already have a sense of protecting Alexander. He became Alexader's personal body guard and fight with him in many wars even in India. If you watched the movie, it was extremely romantic and way too obvious about the affection between them. Alexander even told Hephaestion he's the only one and never leaves him. Hephaestion died before Alexander, it becomes such a big thunder strikes to Alexander's heart.
