Yes, you read that right, hung not unlike requirements for the gladiators. Only the most muscular and hung were let in. We know this because from the age of 7 until 20, males physically prepared their bodies for entrance into the military.
While this may sound fun, it’s important to remember that the guys doing the drilling were monstrous hulks. Part of this bonding process meant letting other warriors pound you out like a jackrabbit. In other words, you were more likely to trust your fellow soldiers and fight harder to protect them when you shared a strong relationship. The reason is that leadership believed man on man sex strengthened warrior bonds. When you were 20-years old, weren’t you horned up like a dog? Well, it was no different for members of the Spartan army.Īnd here is the thing – the military ethos of ancient Greece and Rome encouraged homosexual acts between fighters. It’s kind of hard to wield a sword against your enemies if your head is somewhere else.īecause they were unable to have marital relations with women, many Spartan men would get their sexual needs met with fellow soldiers. Historians aren’t sure why this rule existed, but many believe ancient leaders didn’t want their fighters to be burdened with families. That’s because men were forbidden to marry until they turned 30. Researchers tell us once a man turned 20-years old, he was eligible to enlist in the Spartan army. Located in Southern Greece, directly along the Peloponnese peninsula, this ancient society was built on two important concepts: 1) loyalty to the state and 2) military service.
Remember, this was well before Christianity was born and at a time when human sexuality wasn’t viewed through the lens of judgment it is today. In fact, man on man action among military members was commonplace – and encouraged. Perhaps the best part of this era was that homosexuality wasn’t considered a “sin”. Just so you know, the Spartans wielded power for nearly a thousand years, with their zenith happening between the sixth and fourth centuries, B.C.