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Erastes
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In ancient Greece the erastes (ἐραστής, "lover") was an adult male aristocrat involved in a pederastic relationship with an adolescent boy called the eromenos. Erastes was in particular an Athenian term for this role. Other terms were, in Sparta, eispnelas, "inspirer," and in Crete, philetor, "befriender."
A number of ancient sources, such as Plato's Phaedrus and Aeschines' Against Timarchos indicate that the ideal erastes was restrained in his relations with his beloved, and his love was an expression of his generosity and sympathy. He is contrasted to the man who hires boys for his pleasure and "behaves grossly" with them, the mark of an abusive and uneducated person.[1]
In some cities he was the one who initiated the love affair by courting or ritually kidnapping the boy, while in others, such as Sparta, it was the youth who requested the relationship. While the practice of pedagogic pederasty was encouraged and valorized, it seems to have been optional for the adult in all cities save Sparta, where it was mandated by law.
Iconographic representations of pederastic couples depict the erastes as bearded, while the eromenos is always beardless. When the relationship had a sexual aspect, the erastes was the active partner. In mythology the erastes was exemplified by deities such as Zeus and Apollo and heroes such as Hercules and Orpheus.
The function of the erastes was to love and educate — or see to the education of — the youth. The nature of that education varied with the culture of their respective polis, but generally was grounded in the physical culture of the gymnasium, which included athletics and military training as well as philosophical and musical studies. The erastes was generally an influential citizen, involved in the social and political life of his polis, often married and a pater familias, and enjoying a certain financial ease.
Taking on the responsibilities of a pederastic relationship was not inexpensive, in particular at the time of the festivities which were mandated by tradition. In Crete this entailed a banquet and a number of ritual gifts: an ox, to sacrifice to Zeus; a military outfit, signifying the attainment of warrior status by the eromenos; and a chalice symbolizing the youth's empowerment to attend symposia — as well as possible religious and ritual roles. It was not uncommon for friends of the erastes to contribute to the expenses, the celebration uniting the friends of both partners, much like a modern major family event.
- ^ Aeschines, Against Timarchos tr. Nick Fisher (2001) p.103