Historical Homosexuality: Gay Marriage in Ancient Times
Tuesday 28th October 2008
Across the globe, and in the US and UK in particular, the recognition of same-sex marriages has been a bitter political fighting point for the past few years.
A statue of Antinuous, lover of Roman Emperor Hadrian.
The UK has finally recognized same-sex civil unions after a years long battle, while in the US several states, including California and Connecticut, have legalized same-sex marriages. Some states, including California again, are attempting to do the opposite, putting ballot initiatives which would define marriage as “between a man and a woman” on the agenda for the November elections.
With all the press coverage given to the issue in the past few years, you might think same-sex marriages are a relatively new phenomenon. After all, it took decades for gays and lesbians to achieve basic civil rights and homosexuality was decriminalized only recently in many so-called “modern” and forward thinking western countries. It’s only after some basic equality measures have been reached that the LGB community could begin to think about marriage right?
As it turns out, gay marriage is as old as the hills. Across societies from Asia to Africa, marriage to a member of one’s own gender was not only a fairly common occurrence, but in many cases it was actually celebrated.
In China, and in particular the Fujian province, same-sex marriages were common, and the marriage itself was a great celebration with elaborate ceremonies tying the two men together. As in many ancient homosexual relationships, it was typical for an older man to marry a much younger man. The practice was essentially exclusive to Fujian, and the marriages were not usually permanent affairs. In most cases the older male would help guide the younger through life, and after a number of years they would “divorce”. The older male would then help the younger find a new female wife and become a successful member of society.
The practice of same-sex marriage was found in Africa as well. In ancient Egypt, the couple of Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum were a married couple that helped serve the Pharoah’s family in the Egyptian 5th dynasty. They were the Overseers of the Manicurists in the Palace of the King and shared a special tomb upon their deaths, a great honor. At the same time, the Azande tribe of Congo had a tradition where young men would be married by elder men, who would pay a bride price to the father of the younger individual who they would marry for a time.
The idea of a “temporary” gay marriage was well-known during ancient times. Greece, which was known for its tolerant attitude towards homosexual relationships, did not have “marriages” per se, but relationships between men and younger males were very similar to marriages. In Rome, however, there were “official” marriages between same-sex couples. The Theodosian Code, passed in 342, includes a reference to gay marriages. Indeed, the highest social classes in Rome were known to marry their own sex frequently.
The Emperors themselves were known to marry their male lovers, and many others had male “mistresses”. The Emperor Nero, while best known for his insanity and fiddling while Rome burned, married two men during his reign, though both were actually eunuchs. There is historical evidence that the Emperor Elagabalus, who reigned from 218-222 AD, married a man in a huge, elaborate and very public ceremony. Hadrian had a lover many believe he made his “wife”, or at the very least was his common law wife. The lover, Antinuous, was deified upon his death. He has more statues surviving today than any other non-Imperial individual in Rome, which shows his importance to the Emperor.
Although the Romans had a thing for same-sex marriages, the society helped with the downfall of the custom. The first law against the practice was passed by the Emperors Constantius and Chlorus, who ruled jointly in the 4th century AD, in the year 342. The situation deteriorated quickly as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and subsequent emperors began to crack down hard not just on gay marriage, but on homosexuals in general. In 390 AD homosexuality was made illegal, with the penalty for engaging in such acts being burned alive in a public execution.
Later emperors would use gays as a convenient scapegoat for problems. Justinian later blamed homosexuals for problems ranging from famines to earthquakes. As such laws were passed, gay marriage became less and less common and violence against gays more accepted. Soon, gay marriage was almost unknown throughout Western countries.
However, the tradition of two men living together in a type of marriage persisted in some places. In France, two men could enter into a contract called affrerement throughout the Middle Ages. The practice was a legal agreement between two men to live together and share all their assets. While it was not always a homosexual practice, one would assume at least a few gay men used it to live together as husband and husband.
Today the situation in many places is about the same as it was during the Middle Ages. In quite a few countries men and women are still killed for being gay, and only a relative few countries allow same-sex marriage. The past few years have seen an increase in the number of countries that do allow the practice, but far too many cry about religion and “tradition” to fight against equality in relationships for gays. Perhaps someday they’ll do a little research, and realize that same-sex marriage is “traditional” as well. Until then, we can only wait and fight for equality.
A statue of Antinuous, lover of Roman Emperor Hadrian.
The UK has finally recognized same-sex civil unions after a years long battle, while in the US several states, including California and Connecticut, have legalized same-sex marriages. Some states, including California again, are attempting to do the opposite, putting ballot initiatives which would define marriage as “between a man and a woman” on the agenda for the November elections.
With all the press coverage given to the issue in the past few years, you might think same-sex marriages are a relatively new phenomenon. After all, it took decades for gays and lesbians to achieve basic civil rights and homosexuality was decriminalized only recently in many so-called “modern” and forward thinking western countries. It’s only after some basic equality measures have been reached that the LGB community could begin to think about marriage right?
As it turns out, gay marriage is as old as the hills. Across societies from Asia to Africa, marriage to a member of one’s own gender was not only a fairly common occurrence, but in many cases it was actually celebrated.
In China, and in particular the Fujian province, same-sex marriages were common, and the marriage itself was a great celebration with elaborate ceremonies tying the two men together. As in many ancient homosexual relationships, it was typical for an older man to marry a much younger man. The practice was essentially exclusive to Fujian, and the marriages were not usually permanent affairs. In most cases the older male would help guide the younger through life, and after a number of years they would “divorce”. The older male would then help the younger find a new female wife and become a successful member of society.
The practice of same-sex marriage was found in Africa as well. In ancient Egypt, the couple of Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum were a married couple that helped serve the Pharoah’s family in the Egyptian 5th dynasty. They were the Overseers of the Manicurists in the Palace of the King and shared a special tomb upon their deaths, a great honor. At the same time, the Azande tribe of Congo had a tradition where young men would be married by elder men, who would pay a bride price to the father of the younger individual who they would marry for a time.
The idea of a “temporary” gay marriage was well-known during ancient times. Greece, which was known for its tolerant attitude towards homosexual relationships, did not have “marriages” per se, but relationships between men and younger males were very similar to marriages. In Rome, however, there were “official” marriages between same-sex couples. The Theodosian Code, passed in 342, includes a reference to gay marriages. Indeed, the highest social classes in Rome were known to marry their own sex frequently.
The Emperors themselves were known to marry their male lovers, and many others had male “mistresses”. The Emperor Nero, while best known for his insanity and fiddling while Rome burned, married two men during his reign, though both were actually eunuchs. There is historical evidence that the Emperor Elagabalus, who reigned from 218-222 AD, married a man in a huge, elaborate and very public ceremony. Hadrian had a lover many believe he made his “wife”, or at the very least was his common law wife. The lover, Antinuous, was deified upon his death. He has more statues surviving today than any other non-Imperial individual in Rome, which shows his importance to the Emperor.
Although the Romans had a thing for same-sex marriages, the society helped with the downfall of the custom. The first law against the practice was passed by the Emperors Constantius and Chlorus, who ruled jointly in the 4th century AD, in the year 342. The situation deteriorated quickly as Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire and subsequent emperors began to crack down hard not just on gay marriage, but on homosexuals in general. In 390 AD homosexuality was made illegal, with the penalty for engaging in such acts being burned alive in a public execution.
Later emperors would use gays as a convenient scapegoat for problems. Justinian later blamed homosexuals for problems ranging from famines to earthquakes. As such laws were passed, gay marriage became less and less common and violence against gays more accepted. Soon, gay marriage was almost unknown throughout Western countries.
However, the tradition of two men living together in a type of marriage persisted in some places. In France, two men could enter into a contract called affrerement throughout the Middle Ages. The practice was a legal agreement between two men to live together and share all their assets. While it was not always a homosexual practice, one would assume at least a few gay men used it to live together as husband and husband.
Today the situation in many places is about the same as it was during the Middle Ages. In quite a few countries men and women are still killed for being gay, and only a relative few countries allow same-sex marriage. The past few years have seen an increase in the number of countries that do allow the practice, but far too many cry about religion and “tradition” to fight against equality in relationships for gays. Perhaps someday they’ll do a little research, and realize that same-sex marriage is “traditional” as well. Until then, we can only wait and fight for equality.
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