Studies in the psychology of sex. Vol. 1, Sexual inversion / by Havelock Ellis and John Addington Symonds / by Havelock Ellis.
- Havelock Ellis
- Date:
- 1897
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Studies in the psychology of sex. Vol. 1, Sexual inversion / by Havelock Ellis and John Addington Symonds / by Havelock Ellis. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![Asia Minor. Of paiderastic /xaAa/aa, or effeminacy, there is here no question, else Plato would probably have made Pausanias use other language. XL Before proceeding to discuss the conditions under which paiderastia existed in Athens, it may be well to pause and to consider the tone adopted with regard to it by some of the earlier Greek poets. Much that is interesting on the subject of the true Hellenic Eros can be gathered from Theognis, Solon, Pindar, yEschylus, and Sophocles; while the lyrics of Anacreon, Alcaeus, Ibycus, and others of the same period illustrate the wanton and illiberal passion (v/fyus) which tended to corrode and undermine the nobler feeling. It is well-known that Theognis and his friend Kurnus were members of the aristocracy of Megara. After Megara had thrown off the yoke of Corinth in the early part of the sixth century, the city first submitted to the democratic despotism of Theagenes, and then for many years engaged in civil war- fare. The large number of the elegies of Theognis are specially intended to instruct Kurnus how he ought to act as an illustrious party-leader of the nobles (eV#Aoi) in their contest with the people (SeiAoi). They consist, therefore, of political and social precepts, and for our present purpose are only important as illustrating the educational authority assumed by a Dorian faXrjTwp over his friend. The personal elegies intermingled with these poems on conduct reveal the very heart of a Greek lover at his early period. Here is one on loyalty :— /A7] jx hreaLv [xkv crrepye voov 8 e^e kgu </>peVas aAAas, et /xc </>iAets /cat crot ttlo-tos Zye<TTi voos, dAAa <£i'Aei KaOapov Oefxtvos voov rj pJ a.7roei7ran/ e)(0aip\ apL<pa8Lr)v vet/cos atipapievos. os 8e pafj yXijJoarj 8t^' e^et voov ovto<; eratpos SctAos, Kvpj/', ix@pos yScArepos rj <£tyos an/.1 Love me not with words alone, while your mind and thoughts are otherwise, if you really care for me and the heart within you is loyal. 1 Bergk., PoeUv Lyvica Graci, vol. ii, p. 490, line 87 of Theognis.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2041996x_0213.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
