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Homosexuality was generally accepted in Ancient Greece, although not in the way it is known in the modern world. Gay rights activists sometimes use Greece as an example of how homosexuality can be beneficial, normally unaware of methods such as pederasty which were commonly practiced.

Homosexuality was generally accepted in Ancient Greece, although not in the way it is known in the modern world. Gay rights activists sometimes use Greece as an example of how homosexuality can be beneficial, normally unaware of methods such as pederasty which were commonly practiced.

Homosexual practices in ancient Greece were rooted in a philosophical disdain for the vulgar and the belief that homosexual practices were more rooted in a higher form of love which was not lustful but contributed to an 'everlasting disposition.' This is reflected by attitudes in Plato's Symposium:

Homosexual practices in ancient Greece were rooted in a philosophical disdain for the vulgar and the belief that homosexual practices were more rooted in a higher form of love which was not lustful but contributed to an 'everlasting disposition.' This is reflected by attitudes in Plato's ''Symposium'':

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Pederasty was permitted, but had to be practiced through a refined courtship marked by self-control and dignity. Laws protected youths from the sexual aggression of adult males. Laws also stripped adult males who lost their self-control and sold their bodies to the sexual and psycho-logical dominance of other adult males. Though ancient Athens permitted limited forms of pederasty, restrictions on male prostitution reveal a deep-seatedfear that if not checked, homosexuality could corrupt its citizenry and subvert the polis. <ref name="Acceptance through Restriction: Male Homosexuality in Ancient Athens>, Kelleher, Brigid, in Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II, Vol. 16 [https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1062&context=historical-perspectives]</ref>

Pederasty was permitted, but had to be practiced through a refined courtship marked by self-control and dignity. Laws protected youths from the sexual aggression of adult males. Laws also stripped adult males who lost their self-control and sold their bodies to the sexual and psycho-logical dominance of other adult males. Though ancient Athens permitted limited forms of pederasty, restrictions on male prostitution reveal a deep-seated fear that if not checked, homosexuality could corrupt its citizenry and subvert the polis. <ref name="Acceptance through Restriction: Male Homosexuality in Ancient Athens>, Kelleher, Brigid, in Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series II, Vol. 16 [https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1062&context=historical-perspectives]</ref>

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Several prominent Ancient Greek statesmen and philosophers, such as Plato<ref>http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plat.%20Laws%20636c&lang=original</ref> and Lycurgus<ref>https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0210%3Atext%3DConst.+Lac.%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D13</ref> spoke out against homosexuality and pederasty, and more ancient writers such as Homer and Hesiod do not make mention of homosexuality. Because of this, and accounts from Plato and Aristotle<ref>http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0058%3Abook%3D2%3Asection%3D1272a</ref> regarding the origin of pederasty, it is believed that homosexuality and homosexual mythology was not native to mainland Greece but introduced to it by the Cretans and/or the peoples of the Near East during the late Archaic period.

Several prominent Ancient Greek statesmen and philosophers, such as Plato<ref>http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plat.%20Laws%20636c&lang=original</ref> and Lycurgus<ref>https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0210%3Atext%3DConst.+Lac.%3Achapter%3D2%3Asection%3D13</ref> spoke out against homosexuality and pederasty, and more ancient writers such as Homer and Hesiod do not make mention of homosexuality. Because of this, and accounts from Plato and Aristotle<ref>http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0058%3Abook%3D2%3Asection%3D1272a</ref> regarding the origin of pederasty, it is believed that homosexuality and homosexual mythology was not native to mainland Greece but introduced to it by the Cretans and/or the peoples of the Near East during the late Archaic period.

Some historians also believe that homosexuality helped lead to the downfall of Ancient Greece, as the population was not growing so much and food sources were not being produced as a result and armies became small.  

Some historians also believe that homosexuality helped lead to the downfall of Ancient Greece, as the population was not growing so much and food sources were not being produced as a result and armies became small.

== Famous poets ==

== Famous poets ==