Always a Man and Woman? Not True.
Written 3/21/04
In the debate over same-sex marriages,
one of the arguments I have heard, is that for thouasands of years,
marriage has always been between a man and a woman. I didn't want
to take this at face value, so I decided to do a little digging, and
it turns out that argument is wrong. Don't agree or believe me? Well
then, lets have show and tell time, and what better place to start,
than thousands of years ago, in Ancient Egypt:
Information about Egyptian unions,
whether partners were different or same sex, is indirect but suggestive.
Some artifacts have depicted same-sex couples in intimate poses,
suggesting that Egyptian society at some points in its history was
accepting of same-sex relationships. For example, a tomb for two
male courtiers of the Fifth Dynasty (about 2600 B.C.) includes bas-reliefs
of the two men holding hands and embracing, with noses touching,
poses that are strikingly more erotic than those seen in the depictions
in Egyptian tombs of different-sex couples. Social historian David
Greenberg argues that the men were lovers whose same-sex relationship
was apparently accepted by the state, since the pharaoh provided
their tomb. Indeed, the tomb of at least one pharaoh, the renowned
Akhenaton (Ikhnaton), contains figures of the pharaoh and his male
consort posed even more intimately (source).
When looking into Greece, I came across
an article about an "Army of Lovers," who were an elite
troop of 150 pairs of gay lovers. While it isn't exactly about same-sex
marriages, I found it interesting enough to share. The motivation
behind this army was stated by Mestrius
Plutarch:
For men of the same tribe or family
little value one another when dangers press; but a band cemented
by friendship grounded upon love is never to be broken, and invincible;
since the lovers, ashamed to be base in sight of their beloved,
and the beloved before their lovers, willingly rush into danger
for the relief of one another (source).
As for same-sex marriages in Greece,
I share this:
In Athens and, it appears, other
major city states, no law prohibited same-sex relationships. They
were, in fact, institutionalized for free male citizens, who were
expected to court and have a relationship with a boy in their early
adulthood. While historians have not ventured to consider these
relationships to be marriages, they have demonstrated that they
often followed the same courtship rituals as marriages. A closer
link between same-sex relationships and marriage was a ritualized
same-sex courtship in Crete. The ancient geographer Strabo described
the "peculiar laws regarding love" followed on that island,
whereby two men would become "partners" (or "companions")
after the abduction of one by the other, followed by a feast where
the partners announced their mutual intentions before witnesses.
Several historians have characterized these Cretan abduction ceremonies
as same-sex "marriages" (source).
And another I share for Greece:
Finally, in Europe during Hellenic
times, the relationships between Greek men (erastes) and youths
(eromenos) who had come of age were analogous to marriage in several
aspects. The age of the youth was similar to the age at which women
married (the mid-teens), and the relationship could only be undertaken
with the consent of the father. This consent, just as in the case
of a daughter's marriage, was contingent on the suitor's social
standing. The relationship, just like a marriage, consisted of very
specific social and religious responsibilities, and also had an
erotic component (source).
Next, comes Rome. I share three:
In ancient Rome, for example, the
Emperor Nero is reported to have married, at different times, two
other men in wedding ceremonies. Other Roman Emperors are reported
to have done the same thing (source).
Dio Cassius, a historian and contemporary
of Suetonius, confirmed Nero's marriages to these men and also provided
a reliable account of the same-sex and opposite-sex marriages of
third-century emperor Elagabalus. Indeed, it was said that men seeking
advancement in Elagabalus's imperial court rushed to marry other
men to curry favor with the emperor (source).
Other evidence indicates that same-sex
marriages were not limited to Rome's emperors. The satirists Martial
and Juvenal sarcastically noted the casual way in which men married
other men by the end of the first century. "I have a ceremony
to attend tomorrow morning in the Quirinial valley," says the
interlocutor in Juvenal's Satires. "What sort of ceremony?"
he is asked. The reply: "Nothing special: a friend is marrying
another man and a small group is attending." Martial described
the marriage of "bearded Callistratus" to the "brawny
Afer ' complete with torches, wedding veil, songs, and dower (source).
While on the subject of Rome, I'll share
something else I found interesting, about two Christian Martyrs, who
were gay lovers. While this story may not be entirely about same-sex
marriages, the story does effects future ones:
"Sergius and Bacchus, Saints,
two fourth century martyrs, according to legend, officers of the
Roman Army on the Syrian frontier. On their refusal to sacrifice
to Jupiter, they were sent to Rosata in Mesopotamia, where they
were scourged so severely that Bacchus died. Sergius later was beheaded.
The church over Sergius’ grave was restored 431, and shortly
afterwards, Rosata became the seat of a bishropic; it was renamed
Sergiopolis. Sergius and Baccus became protectors of the Byzantine
Army. Their feast day is October 7"
The martyrdom, which to this time
has had certain details left out, is translated by John Boswell,
from ancient documents:
Immediately he ordered their belts
cut off, their tunics and all other military garb removed. Gold
torguates were taken from around their necks and women’s clothing
placed on them. Thus they were to be paraded through the middle
of the city to the palace, bearing heavy chains around their necks.
The point of putting women’s clothes on them was to degrade
them as high ranking soldiers.. As they were paraded through the
city streets they chanted together: Yea , though we walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil Lord, because
denying ungodliness and worldly lust we have put off the form of
the old man and we, naked, rejoice in you, because you have clothed
us with the garment of salvation. You have covered us with the robe
of righteousness. You have decked us as brides with women’s
gowns, and have joined us one to another for you, through our faithfulness.
Sergius and Bacchus are subject
to a series of torments, typical of the time. Bacchus finally dies.
Sergius waivers in his faith, because Bacchus has been taken from
him.
He weeps and cries out, Oh my other
half, never will we sing together the hymns and songs we used to
sing.. Unyoked from me, you have left me here on earth, lonely and
disconsolate. Then Bacchus appears to him, the biographer says,
"radiantly and beautiful". Why do you morn and grieve,
beloved? I have been taken from you bodily, but in the bond of our
love, I am with you still. Hurry now so that through your good and
perfect fidelity, you may be worthy to earn me as the reward of
the race. For my crown of justice is you.
At this point it becomes a very
remarkable story. No other early martyr story emphasizes the love
between two human beings in this way. They are martyred for confessing
the name of Christ. This narrative privileges love between two people
for their Christian faith. In the scores of Christian liturgies
down through the centuries that bless same sex unions, they are
invoked as the archetype, the model for same sex relationships.(source).
Did you just do a double take with that
last sentence? You can go back and read it, but it won't change, because:
There's even evidence that the
Catholic Church recognized same-sex marriage in the early Middle
Ages. Scholars dispute whether these unions should actually be called
marriages, but there is no doubt that the Church conducted formal
ceremonies to recognize the bond between same-sex partners. The
Church endorsed sexual union between members of the same sex (source)!
In (John) Boswell’s book,
Same Sex-Unions in Premodern Europe, he lists Liturgies of Same
Sex Unions which he had discovered in all of the centuries from
the eighth through the seventeenth and he provided English translations
of many. They were performed everywhere Greek was used as a Liturgical
language which was at one time most of the world (source).
The book I just mentioned uses same-sex
unions in it's title, because it's author considers it a more neutral
term than marriages. Though in my opinion, it does sound like marriage
could apply:
One has to ask ones self, "What
are two men in a Roman Catholic Church (or Greek Orthodox) with
their hands joined, or holding crowns over each other’s head,
at a communion service, asking for unashamed fidelity and sincere
love or that they be united in perfect love and inseparable
life or to be granted the grace to love each other in joy
without injury or hatred all the days of their life. The ceremonies
themselves are not controversial, after all they exist. What they
might mean is what the controversy is about (source).
All that I have shared so far, hasn't
happened on U.S. soil, and this article is being written about the
debate sparked in the U.S., so I think it's only fair to mention that
it would appear same-sex marriages have happened here too: