red-figure homoerotic images

[meridannight]

Yes, they were expressive enough. Although, just to clarify, it doesn't necessarily mean that they approved of what was depicted. The Peithinos cup has variably been interpreted to show that it is not proper for young males to allow such physical intimacy with other males; that you can be intimate, to use that word, but not too intimate. (The different male couples depicted are in different stages of courting, with some having their genitals stimulated, and others keeping their clothes on, figuratively speaking). The Greeks still had their hang-ups about which was the one penetrated in male-male intercourse. And it all played out (in theory) in an atmosphere governed by their approved social rules and setting.

Although, in the end, we don't really know for sure what they meant when they painted them, and different scholars have somewhat differing opinions about it.

My own opinion is, whichever the context -- positive or negative -- they couldn't have depicted it if it wasn't something they thought needed addressing. And if it needed addressing, it was prevalent enough, and visible enough of a conduct. Which is pretty much all one needs to know.

The Peithinos cup is dated from ca 500 BCE. The cup is called such because it was signed Peithinos, which could be the name of the artist, or come from 'peitho' which translates something like 'persuasion', or seduction (not my translation!). (For the record, it also depicts heterosexual couples on the other side). The cup is in Berlin, in the Altes Museum.

On this image you can see how partner in one of the male couples is stimulating another's genitals with his hand:



And a few more pictures:








Glad to see others enjoy this subject.