Oh we used to always talk about this stuff in greek philosophy lessons. TEiresias was changed into a woman by hera. And s/he subsequently went on to become the most successful prostitute in thebes (which is no small thing since thebes was very proud of having some of the most skilful prostitutes outside persia). So that is the typical argument in favour of gay sex: it’s supposed to be easier to please your own gender. It’s so offensive to the human condition! It’s not like all men/women are same. Anyway, according to hesiod, zeus and hera were arguing about which gender had it better. And so hera summoned teiresias (who’d somehow become a man again by this stage i can’t remember why!), who revealed to them that women actually enjoy sex up to ten times more than any man, and have tens time more sexual appetite than any man ect. Which sounds really unfair on men! But then, obviously, they all agreed that at least men get to be ten times better looking than women. It’s so hilarious because when virgil visited athens in 19 bc, just before his death, he was astounded by the implausible beauty of the men and the comparative dowdiness of the women, who didn’t even bother with make-up. On the other hand, roman girls wouldn’t be seen dead without their mascara! Athenian men were so interested in each other they just forgot about women, and the women consequently got so depressed they gave up on themselves (although this was almost five hundred years after the golden age)! But even in macedon, you have the notorious tale of olympias, the most beautiful woman in thrace, who was so sexually frustrated (her husband philip spent all day with boys) that she resorted to raping a snake. I think we have to feel sorry for her, but the behaviour is so irresponsible and it was very upsetting for the children. No wonder alexander ended up with anger management problems. |