LHMP #508 Bremmer 1980 An Enigmatic Indo-European Rite: Paederasty

Bremmer presents some anecdotal, cross-cultural evidence for classical Greek pederasty having structural similarities to some generational-initiation ceremonies or systems in “primitive” cultures, positing that it is, perhaps, a relic of a more widespread Indo-European practice. The body of the article is focused exclusively on male relations, however a very brief appendix reviews three brief references to a possible female parallel in Sparta that could expand understanding of the context of Sappho’s love poetry. The references are:

• Plutarch: reference to Spartan noble women “loving girls”
• Hagnon: reference to having intercourse with girls before their marriage “as one did with boys” (although evidently the interpretation that this is women having intercourse with them is motivated by the logical implausibility that it could refer to m/f intercourse, although other interpretations of “as one did with boys” are possible)
• Alcman: poems providing a connection between female initiation rituals and same-sex love (a reference to the genre of partheneion “maiden-songs” that can include expressions of love and praise from a female singer to a female object)