“Perseus Digital Library.” Classical Tyrannicides (Sculpture). “Crizio E Nesiote.” Crizio E Nesiote - Sito Ufficiale Del Museo Archeologico Nazionale Di Napoli. Nudity in Greek sculpture was reserved for gods/ goddesses, warriors, and athletes. Instead, they showed idealized realism and movement in posture as the figures place their feet forward and stand in contraposto (meaning, that weight is shifted to one side of the figure.)
Statues at this time were no longer static and archaic.This may symbolize the warrior’s mutual devotion and platonic love to one another. Aristogeiton, the older warrior (left) lunges forward and offers a protective cloak for Harmodius.“Achilles and Patroclus: Brothers from Other Mothers or Passionate Paramours?” Ancient Origins. “The Relationship between Achilles and Patroclus According to Chariton of Aphrodisias.” The Classical Quarterly 53, no. Morales, Manuel Sanz, and Gabriel Laguna Mariscal. “Was the Relationship between Achilles and Patroclus Homoerotic? The View of Apollonius Rhodius.” Hermes 133, no. Gabriel Laguna-Mariscal, and Manuel Sanz-Morales. After Homer’s Iliad, the two can be found in art and literature demonstrating their bond and companionship. Achilles’ grief causes him insomnia and a great drive to fight and avenge Patroclus’ death at the hands of Hector, a Trojan prince and fighter for Troy. After the death Patroclus, Achilles’ aim for fighting in the war became Patroclus.
Homer, the poet writes the pair as two friends with a tender relationship later deemed as pederastic by the Greeks, where in which an older male figure mentors and cares for the younger as a “rite of passage” that could include sexual relations. Patroclus is a warrior who grew up as a role model and companion to Achilles as appointed by Achilles’ father. Men’s relationships were not only considered but welcomed. He is known for his only weakness being in his heel as his mother dipped him in the river Styx as an infant and held him by his heel. In ancient Greek society, at least for men, stigmas about sexual orientation did not exist. Achilles is a young Greek warrior in Homer’s Iliad who possesses superhuman strength and ability as he was born from a nymph and a mortal. In this relationship, exhibiting predominantly the social dimension of an initiation process and introduction to adult life, the erotic homosexual intercourse. Where can I see this artwork?: Antikensammlung in Berlin, GermanyĪchilles and Patroclus, are one of the most celebrated male warrior pairs in Greek literature after the Trojan War.