Peter Jones

Ancient and modern | 13 November 2010

It was an assumption of much ancient Greek literature that sex between the older male and the young boy was the ultimate experience — for the older male.

issue 13 November 2010

It was an assumption of much ancient Greek literature that sex between the older male and the young boy was the ultimate experience — for the older male.

It was an assumption of much ancient Greek literature that sex between the older male and the young boy was the ultimate experience — for the older male. But since the hunt for this nirvana was bound to end in failure, the advice was to forget it. You would just make a complete prat of yourself. Those who fell into the trap — especially elderly males yearning hopelessly after beautiful young boys — were the subject of endless mockery from friends and enemies alike.

As for women, well, that was something completely different. The story was told of Teiresias who, as a young man, was walking in the countryside one day when he saw two snakes copulating.

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