red-figure homoerotic images

[meridannight]

I thought I'd post some erotic art/images from more than 2000 years ago.







These are figures from Greek vases and cups. Homoerotic depictions were not that common, but we have a decent number of them come down to us.

The Peithinos cup, for example, shows several male pairs in varying degrees of touching (interpreted to be happening in the setting of a gymnasium):



detail:



Zephyrus and Hyacinthus:



This is thought to be Achilles patching up the wounded hand of Patroclus on this drinking cup:





This is some setting showing one male climbing onto a lap of another who has an erection (the man who looks on is supposedly in a separate room, although it might not be obvious from the first glance):

[princealbertofb]

We like us a bit of ancient porn.... haha.

[Borg69]

I love ancient Greek Art. I also love that they were open enough to be this expressive.

[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.

[Emiliano]

This has been educational, thank you.

[meridannight]

This has been educational, thank you.

In that case I'll add one fascinating detail. You notice that abstract pattern of lines bordering some thing or another in Greek art (i.e. meandros or meander)? It actually might not be so abstract at all.

This image here (drawing of the inside of the Peithinos cup, depicting Achilles' mother Thetis and Peleus) shows that pattern represented as an interlocking of hands:



I think that's beautiful. I'll never look at that pattern with the same abstract feeling ever again.

[Emiliano]

In that case I'll add one fascinating detail. You notice that abstract pattern of lines bordering some thing or another in Greek art (i.e. meandros or meander)? It actually might not be so abstract at all.

This image here (drawing of the inside of the Peithinos cup, thought to be depicting Achilles' mother Thetis and Peleus) shows that pattern represented as an interlocking of hands:



I think that's beautiful. I'll never look at that pattern with the same abstract feeling ever again.

That's really interesting, and I agree, that changes how I see that pattern now. I really like that style of art, the lines and shapes are so clean and elegant.

Is Greek art just a hobby of yours, or do you have some formal education on the topic?

[meridannight]

Is Greek art just a hobby of yours, or do you have some formal education on the topic?

I was in an art school (University of Arts) and I received as much education on it as architects do (which is to say just generic art history and theory). I didn't study Greek art itself. This is something I've researched on my own in my spare time. I think it's an important subject though, and an interesting one, so that's why I talk about it.

[knickerbuck]

This has been educational, thank you.

"sex" educational ...

[princealbertofb]

Sexual mores in ancient Greece times was different from what they are now. Like marriage, they have been redefined from various invasions and influences from other cultures. The core of the matter is that homosexuality has always existed, it seems, whether it was an integral part of the way things were, in someone's sex life, or whether it was a hush hush experience...