One of the most widely accepted, openly homosexual relationships in history is that of Achilles and Patroclus. The nature of their relationship has been a topic of debate among historians and literary critiques for centuries now. The pair that made their literary debut (at least among sources that survive up to date) in Homer’s “The Illiad”, and are known for having a very close relationship that lasted throughout their lifetime, even as they went into war against the Trojans. The Illiad itself provided plenty of grounds for the perception that they had an extremely intimate relationship with one another.
Achilles is said to have desired that both the Greeks and the Trojans would perish so he may conquer Troy with Patroclus alone (Book 16 of the Illiad). “My dear comrade is dead- Patroclus- the man I loved beyond all other comrades, loved as my own life- I’ve lost him.” (Book 18 of the Illiad). The death of Patroclus was the catalyst for Achilles’ homicidal rage, leading to many deaths; the most notable one being the death of Hector, the champion of the Trojans, as he was responsible for the Patroclus’ death Achilles is said to have tied his corpse to the back of his chariot, dragging it around for days. Homer also describes Patroclus’ final plea to Achilles, “A last request- grant it please. Never bury my bones apart from yours, Achilles, let them lie together… So now let a single urn, the gold two-handed urn your noble mother gave you, hold our bones- together.” (Book 23 of the Illiad) Later in the very same book 23, Achilles holds an elaborate, emotional funeral ritual for Patroclus, even placing a lock of his own hair in Patroclus’ hands.
As further proof, we have Plato’s “Symposium” and Aeschylus’s “The Myrmidons”, both of which, while having disagreements as to which of the two was the erastes (the older partner) and the eromenos (the younger partner), found common ground primarily in their opinion that the pair were lovers. While some might believe it inaccurate to label their relationship as ‘lovers’ (due to the lack of evidence supporting any sexual relationship between them) it is undeniable that their relationship clearly goes beyond a platonic love.
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