Time Line -BC-
- Ca. 5200 BC
- A statue of Adonis was created & found in 2008 see Porn statue
- Ca. 5000 BC
Creation of rock drawings at Ti-n-Lalan, near Fezzan in Libya, showing an animal headed creature with a gigantic penis, and an animal/man hybrid, having sex.
- Ca. 2500 BC
Gilgamesh, King of Uruk, in the Sumerian poem cycles that constitute one of the oldest known pieces of literature, meets Enkidu, the only man who rivals him for strength and bravery. They become lovers and particularly enjoy wrestling with each other.
- 25th or 24th Century BC.
Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum's tomb is built in Egypt during the fifth dynasty. It is believed that the two men may have been lovers, making this the first record of a homosexual relationship.
- 2355 - 2261 BC
The reign of Egyptian King Pepy II Neferkare who, in what may be history's first homosexual short story, makes nocturnal visits to have sex with his general, Sisinne.
- Ca. 1900 BC
Destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Too bad the bible is not more explicit about the reason. The interpretation hinges on the Hebrew word meaning "to know." The term is used 943 times in the Old Testament; only 15 of these times is it a euphemism for sexual activity. In the New Testament, the only reference to Sodom (Luke 10:10) identifies the sin as inhospitality. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah probably had nothing to do with sexuality. [AA]
- 1503-1354 BC
The reign of Egyptian Queen Hatshepsut who adopted male dress and even wore a false beard.
- Ca. 1250 BC
The Ani Papyrus shows the rite of the "animation of the phallus." It appears to be one of the earliest recorded examples of a blow job.
- Ca. 1000 BC
The Israelite king Saul demands of David, as a bride-price for his daughter Michal, 100 Philistine foreskins.
- Ca. 730 BC
Krimon warms the heart of Simias" is one of several lines of homosexual graffiti that constitute one of the earliest know uses of the Greek alphabet.
- 7th Century BC
Ashurbanipal, the last Assyrian king, dresses in women's clothing most of the time. The cross-dressing is used to justify his eventual overthrow.[TOL]
- 630 BC
Cretan aristocrats formalize relationships between adult princes and adolescent boys, with an aim to educate the youths and curb population growth. The practice, associated with gymnasia and athletic nudity, is quickly adopted throughout much of ancient Greece, influencing sports, literature, politics, philosophy, art and warfare, and leading
- 600 BC
After this date it becomes customary for Greek hoplites, the upper class warriors who fight in the phalanx, each to take a boy of 12 as a lover to train until he is 18 and can hunt and fight. In Crete a ritual kidnapping consecrates the pairing.
- 580's BC
Sappho's famed girls' school flourishes on the isle of Lesbos. Her exquisite love poems to students are the earliest known lesbian writings. [AA]
- Ca. 540 BC
The Etruscan Tomb of the Bulls at Tarquinia, with its fresco depicting one man anally penetrating another.
- 418 BC, Dec. 25
Birth of Epaminondas, one of the great military geniuses of the ancient world. Like other Greek warriors he loved boys, but for him delight in boys was complete, he never married or produced an heir. His two favorite boys fell in battle and, by his order, were buried with him in his tomb. [Greif 82]
- 382 BC, April 18
Birth of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. In 350 BC he leaves on a military expedition, taking with him 800 boys to be used for the pleasure of himself and his officers.
- 378 BC
The Sacred Band of Thebes is formed. This military unit consists entirely of 150 male couples and is based upon the belief that men fighting alongside their lovers would die rather than shame one another. [TOL]
- 356 BC, July 20
The birth of Alexander of Macedonia-known to history as Alexander the Great-king, general, world conqueror, and lover of men, particularly Hephaiston, whose death in 324 he mourns extravagantly, and the eunuch slave boy Bagoas, who had been a favorite of Persian king Darius.
- 338 BC
The Sacred Band of Thebes is annihilated by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander at the Battle of Chaeronea. The 300 stood their ground and perished.
- 333 BC
Alexander of Macedonia begins his campaign to conquer the Persian Empire, and takes Egypt and much of Asia before turning back in central India.
- 324 BC
The death of Hephaiston, lover of Alexander the Great.[G30]
- 323 BC, June 10
Death of Alexander the Great.
- 300 BC
Addeaus of Macedon is quoted as saying, "When you meet a boy who pleases take action at once. Don't be polite, just grab him by the balls and strike while the iron is hot."
- 186 BC
The Roman Senate attempts to suppress the Bacchanalian rites in which, according to the historian Livy, there is more debauchery among the men with each other than with the women.
- 100 BC, July 13
Birth of Gaius Julius Caesar in Rome. "Wife to every man and husband to every woman." [Greif 82]
- 71 BC
Revolt of Roman slaves, led by Spartacus. The revolution is crushed by consuls Pompey and Crassus and the slaves are crucified along the Appian Way.
- 54 BC
Nero becomes Emperor of Rome. Nero married two men in legal ceremonies, with at least one spouse accorded the same honours as an empress. Gay relationships are accepted and institutionalized in this time period.
- 10 BC, Aug. 1
Birth of Claudius, Emperor of Rome. Robert Graves' novels, and Masterpiece Theatre?s production of I Claudius enlightened us, but not about Emperor Claudius? contributions to the gladiatorial games or of his male lovers.
- 1 BC
Publication of Ovid's Ars Amatoria, the first self-help sex manual.
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