Sacred band of thebes, elite gay soldiers heritagedaily. The sacred band was modeled on the spartans, who also encouraged youngmanolderman pairings in the phalanx, but did not insist upon it. Dec 17, 2014 adds a new unit, theban sacred band, an elite hoplite unit for the boiotian league. Prior to its destruction by alexander in 335 bc, thebes was a major force in greek history, and was the most dominant citystate at the time of the macedonian conquest of greece. Thus was the motivation for the sacred band of thebes, an elite greek fighting force of 150 pairs of lovers. They immediately reported their discovery when they returned to athens. It looks like we dont have a synopsis for this title yet. The sacred band of thebes lives on, a world away, in this mythic novel of love in war in ancient times. Thebes was the largest city of the ancient region of boeotia and was the leader of the boeotian confederacy.
Theban forces under the command of epaminondas ended the power of sparta at the battle of leuctra in 371 bc. The spartan tradition of military heroism has also been explained in light of strong emotional bonds resulting from homosexual relationships. This is sacred band of thebes by ryan mcnamara on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. In 338 bce, during the battle of chaeronea that results in the massacre of the sacred band of thebes, the legendary tempus and his stepson cavalry rescue twentythree pairs of theban sacred banders, paired lovers and friends, to fight on other days. Unknown to nikanoras, his mentor holds a treacherous secret over his father and is in love with his mother. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Jul 01, 2007 in about 300 bc, the town of thebes erected a giant stone lion on a pedestal at the burial site of the sacred band. Homosexuality in the militaries of ancient greece was regarded as contributing to morale.
The rise and fall of the sacred band of thebes by g. Nikanoras, born the only son to an aristocrat, is sent to train with a mentor and find a male lover in order to be selected to serve with the sacred band of thebes. From what ive read, the sacred band was a unit of 300 elite soldiers that formed one of thebes best military units. It is said to have been organised by the theban commander gorgidas in 378 bc and to have played a crucial role in the battle of leuctra. He mentions the sacred band as being led by the general pelopidas and, alongside epaminondas who commanded the army of thebes boeotia, were responsible for the defeat of the spartans at the decisive battle of leuctra 371 bc. Mar 05, 2007 the sacred band of thebes are athenian greeks, the men in 300 are spartans.
These wonderfully sculptured men form the basis of your sacred band of thebes with the full band consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers. Sacred band of thebes how is sacred band of thebes. Their finest hour came at the battle of leuktra, under the theban general epaminondas. It is said to have been organised by the theban commander gorgidas in 378 bc and to have played a crucial role in the. It was a major rival of ancient athens, and sided with the persians during the 480 bc invasion under xerxes. The theory was that men would fight more bravely and more fiercely if they were fighting side by side with their lover. I want to know if they had a answered by a verified expert we use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Regarded as invincible throughout all of ancient greece, the theban sacred band or the sacred band of thebes were specially selected and trained elite soldiers of the theban army in the 4th century bc. The sacred band of thebes kugure haikyuu archive of. What is the consensus among historians about the sacred band of. This is though to be hypocritical since there was homosexuality in their ranks as well but, theyre two separate groups of men.
This was restored in the 20th century and is standing today. Sacred band of thebes how is sacred band of thebes abbreviated. Its predominance began with its crucial role in the battle of leuctra in 371 bc, it was annihilated by philip ii of macedon in the battle of chaeronea. Was hercules a member of the sacred band of thebes. Lgbt history month began with missouri high school teacher rodney wilson in 1994, and its overarching goal is to provide role models, help build connections, and highlight the contributions of the lgbt community worldwide. It is the only time in history that homosexual soldiers have been deliberately assembled, let alone paired and allowed to fight alongside their lovers. For forty years, they were considered the greatest fighting force on earth. The sacred band of thebes was an elite fighting unit within the ancient theban army of the 4th century bc. The sacred band of thebes an elite military unit famously fell at. Even when overwhelmed, the sacred band refused to surrender, and were annihilated. While the story of the sacred band of thebes is well known and the band itself is mentioned in almost every history of greece, there exists no complete chronological account of its formation, activities, and eventual destruction. Theban sacred band, the sacred band of thebes hail caesar. Jun 03, 2017 the sacred band of thebes was celebrated throughout greece for their courage, and in fact they are credited as being a key part of the rise of thebes to prominence within the 4 th century b. The band was composed of pairs of lovers, normally made up of an older soldier who had taken on the job of mentoring a some.
The sacred band of thebes is a tr short story, and thus belongs to him alone, but the tale is true, based on plutarch and other ancient sources. Historically, the sacred band of thebes was a picked force of 150 male couples 300 soldiers, forming the elite of the theban army in the 4th century bce. Its predominance began with its crucial role in the battle of leuctra in 371 bc. The rise and fall of the sacred band of thebes and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Though plutarch claims that all three hundred died that day, excavation of the burial site at the lion monument in 1890 produced only 254 skeletons, arranged in seven. In 300 the movie, leonidas sneeringly refers to the athenians as boy lovers. Steam workshop new elite unit theban sacred band for. The sacred band of thebes was celebrated throughout greece for their courage, and in fact they are credited as being a key part of the rise of thebes to prominence within the 4 th century b. The sacred band of thebes are athenian greeks, the men in 300 are spartans. But a battalion joined together by erotic love cannot be destroyed or broken. In 300 bc, the thebans erected a monument of a lion over the sacred bands burial site. Podcast notes patrick garvey november 21, 2016 ancient greek heroes, sacred band of thebes, alexander the great, homosexuality in ancient greece 3 comments. The stalemate was broken by the arrival of the seventh boeotarch.
It was believed these men would make better warriors. Homosexuality in the militaries of ancient greece simple. What is the consensus among historians about the sacred. Sacred band of thebes show notes in this episode of the podcast, we investigate whether a mysterious army of lovers known as the sacred band of thebes really dominated greece in the 4th century bce. See more ideas about sacred band of thebes, ancient greece and greek warrior. Sacred band of thebes military wiki fandom military wikia. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or.
Home series ancient assassins aired order season 2 episode 10 sacred band of thebes the battle of leuctra in 371 b. Sacred band of thebes simple english wikipedia, the free. See more ideas about ancient greece, greece and greek history. Ancient assassins sacred band of thebes tv episode 2016. The sacred band of thebes was an elite force of the theban army in lateclassical greece. The army won every battle until it was finally defeated by philip of macedonia and his son alexander the great. The sacred band of thebes entirely made up of male lovers. I started this idea in july with naerossi, but i sure took my time to write it all down orz. An army comprised of 150 pairs of homosexual lovers.
The chief example is the sacred band of thebes, a unit said to have been formed of samesex couples. The earliest surviving record of the sacred band by name was in 324 bc, in the oration against demosthenes by the athenian logographer dinarchus. Nikanoras, born the only son of an aristocrat, is sent to train with a mentor and find a male lover in order to be selected to serve with the sacred band of thebes. Til of the sacred band of thebes who were 300 elite. New elite unit theban sacred band for wrath of sparta campaign. This passage discusses the sacred band of thebes, an elite military unit. Various ancient greek sources record incidents of courage in. Plutarchs passage on the sacred band as a unit of lovers is littered with. The rise and the fall of the sacred band of thebes by g. The thebans formalized the male pairings and maybe triples and quadruples nobody knows for sure and made sure everyone in the sacred band had a. The sacred band of thebes was a troop of select soldiers, consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers which formed the elite force of the theban army in the 4th century bc, ending spartan domination. In about 300 bc, the town of thebes erected a giant stone lion on a pedestal at the burial site of the sacred band. Ancient greek superpower the spartan army, confronts the three hundred warriors of the sacred band of thebes.
Dec 31, 2016 if you mean to ask if the men of the sacred band engaged in malemale sex, then yes, it seems almost certain that they did. Adds a new unit, theban sacred band, an elite hoplite unit for the boiotian league. In 375 bc the bands command was transferred to the younger boeotarch known as pelopidas, who was one of the original exiled with gorgidas. Jan 02, 2016 incredible stories podcast ep 1 the sacred band of thebes duration. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the synopsis submission guide. It is said that the sacred band was only defeated once in battle, specifically the battle of chaeronae in 338 bc against philip ii of macedonia father of alexander the great. The couples themselves were selected from the other theban units to join this elite group. If you mean to ask if the men of the sacred band engaged in malemale sex, then yes, it seems almost certain that they did. While the story of the sacred band of thebes is well known and t. The legend of the sacred band, the sleep of reason. The ranks of the phalanx could not be broken by either advancing light infantry or.
Sacred band of thebes quotethe sacred band of thebes was a troop of select soldiers, consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers which formed the elite force of the theban army in the 4th century bc. When philip saw the lovers dead side by side, he wept and said, perish any man who suspects that these men either did or suffered any thing that was base. In that bloody battle thebes was defeated and lost almost every man of its exclusive fighting force called the sacred band. The sacred band of thebes was a troop of select soldiers, consisting of 150 pairs of male. Erotic experience and sexual ethics in ancient greece. Sacred band world war ii, a special forces unit composed entirely of officers. Its predominance began with its crucial role in the battle of leuctra in 371 bc, it was annihilated by philip ii of macedon in the battle of chaeronea in 338 bc. Til of the sacred band of thebes who were 300 elite soldiers made up of 150 pairs of male lovers.
Egyptian museum damaged 4,000yearold models that represent an army of. Sbot is defined as sacred band of thebes very rarely. During the battle of chaeronia, they stood and fought to the death while their comrades ran. The sacred band of thebes an elite military unit famously fell at the battle of chaeronea in 338 bc against philip ii and alexander the great. Incredible stories podcast ep 1 the sacred band of thebes duration. The sacred band of thebes was an elite force of the theban.
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by the miniatures page. May, 2014 the sacred band of thebes entirely made up of male lovers may, 2014 melissa 7 comments in the 4th century b. What is the consensus among historians about the sacred band.
Plutarch cites a lost work of aristotle in which it is said that theban lovers and beloveds. The upcoming graphic novel the sacred band of thebes, based on the true story of the greatest fighting force of ancient greece. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters. Hadrian departed on this journey in triumph, but he returned a broken. Known as the sacred band of thebes, they were unique in history in that they. Tmp sacred band of thebes topic the miniatures page. The earliest surviving record of the sacred band by name was made in 324 bc. A year later philip divorced olympias, and, after a quarrel at a feast held to celebrate his fathers new marriage, alexander and his mother fled to epirus, and alexander later went. According to plutarch, the sacred band of thebes was a group of three hundred warriors composed entirely of couples. Its predominance began with its crucial role in the battle of leuctra in 371bc. Ive also read that the unit was formed out of 150 pairs of lovers an older erastes. Parts of the statue had broken off and a good deal of it still remained buried. The sacred band of thebes, also called the theban band, was a battalion.
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