Film Fanatics Society - Chat Thread

The Spartans weren't gay in the sense that we think of it. It was not uncommon in many Greek City States, and in Sparta in particular, for an adult male or warrior to have a younger "companion". The relationship was not just sexual, though it did involve that. It was a mentoring relationship, with the older man expected to provide a role model and see to the younger man's education in how to be a good citizen. Certainly, with the odd situation of fairly late marriages with Spartan men, that there were probably a fair number of gay relationships. The ancient Greeks tended to look at homosexuality differently than we do today. One school of thought is that since women were so inferior, it was impossible for a man to truly love a woman. Thus the only "true love" a man could have would be for another man. But given the fact that marriages were still the norm, it's unlikely that homosexuality was the rule rather than the exception in sexual relationships.
On a side note, look up the Theban Sacred Band. This was a group of elite warriors, 150 pairs of men. The idea behind the Band was that a soldier would fight better if his lover was at his side. Again, this was an unusual arrangement even for the times.