Context: in classical Greece, Sparta built a hegemony based on its military power that was formed around a core of professional hoplites, which was rare at the time as most military campaigns were fought by part time soldiers who were mainly farmers, handymen, etc.
This hegemony was broken when in Thebes the Sacred Band of Thebes was formed, consisting of 150 gay couples who became professional soldiers, too. These 300 (coincidence? Idk, but I find it funny) elite warriors were instrumental in two major defeats an outnumbered thebian army handed to Spartans who encountered another professional military for the first time.
The Sacred Band being made up of gay couples was intentional, as the idea behind it was that men would fight harder for and with other men they had a strong bond with and there was no stronger bond than love.
Idolizing spartan warrior culture is widespread among "alpha males" and the manosphere. Another funny irony that followers and propagators of such a homophobic idiology idolize a culture that was defeated by an explicitly gay warrior unit.
41 Comments
BillyClark@piefed.social · 76 pts · 152d
If Andrew Tate is such a tough guy, why is he so focused on women? A real alpha male would go after strong men, not like those pussy loving straight guys.
cRazi_man@europe.pub · 6 pts · 152d
Source
DagwoodIII@piefed.social · 49 pts · 152d
The Spartans were also gay.
DarkDinner@quokk.au · 33 pts · 152d
And practiced child rape as a core part of their social structure... Same as Americans.
KingGimpicus@sh.itjust.works · 18 pts · 152d
Well its not gay if youre on top, according to sources at the time. Giving a fucking was manly, but taking a fucking was feminine.
mojofrododojo@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 152d
all that tradition, destroyed by one innovation:
THE POWER BOTTOM
nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl · 6 pts · 152d
I think that was Rome?
KingGimpicus@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 152d
Rome came much later.
The mindset is actually still alive today. A lot of central and south american countries still have this mindset due to Portuguese and Spanish influence over the centuries. I watched a documentary years back talking about the history and origins of machismo in Latin culture.
arrow74@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 152d
Simpler times
areakode@riskeratspizza.com · 24 pts · 152d
He hates women so much, he's turning gay...
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 152d
when when
CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 152d
?
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 152d
CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de · 4 pts · 152d
Yeah, I know. I put those words there.
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 152d
mannycalavera@feddit.uk · 6 pts · 152d
It's a boomer inspired meme that is now viral. They think it's funny. Ignore it.
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 152d
well, explaining jokes makes them more funny
so maybe they’ll appreciate me pointing this
this out
CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 152d
Yes I know. I put that meme in there on purpose.
SnowmenMelt@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 152d
So why ? the comment that noticed it?
CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de · 0 pts · 152d
I wasn't sure they got the meme or thought this was an accident and I didn't want to be too in the nose, so I wanted to drag this out a little to be sure.
Zachariah@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 152d
mission accomplished
Jerb322@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 152d
" Unit"
CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de · 15 pts · 152d
Yes, the Sacred Band of Thebes was a military unit.
Jerb322@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 152d
Fabulous
blockheadjt@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 152d
Where defeated?
There, defeated! There, castle!
CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de · 4 pts · 152d
Dang, missed that.
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 10 pts · 152d
Didnt the Spartans famously practice homosexuality as a way of strengthening bonds between soldiers? The reasoning being that you'd fight extra hard for the guy next to you if you were lovers.
Etterra@discuss.online · 7 pts · 152d
They, and ancient Greek soldiers in general, also took young boys "under their wings" oh and had sex with them. Because humanity is deeply, horribly fucked up.
Bieren@lemmy.today · 9 pts · 151d
Like they would accept historical facts and not the bullshit they make up on the spot.
KeenFlame@feddit.nu · 9 pts · 151d
I am totally out of the loop on the manosphere but do they really adore spartans? I think they adore the americanized movie version, sure, but do they like actually learn from real Spartan history because there would be truly a lot of homosexuality involved then
Crashumbc@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 151d
Of course they're talking about not only the American version, but even that twisted to fit their own ideals.
titanicx@lemmy.zip · 3 pts · 151d
I bet Epstein and his followers, loved Spartans... Oh wait, they do....
Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 152d
What's manlier then two men? Besides increasing multiples of men, of course.
plyth@feddit.org · 5 pts · 152d
There is more:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoge
fossilesque@mander.xyz · 3 pts · 151d
psycho_driver@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 152d
The Spartans were all gay or bi too.
Mulligrubs@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 151d
Wait until they find out about the Spartans.
OH DEAR
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 2 pts · 151d
As always, the alpha got mogged by a figglebottom
ImWaitingForRetcons@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 149d
Bonus fact: there was a lot of homosexuality in the Spartan armies too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_militaries_of_ancient_Greece
livingsimnpc@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 152d
CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de · 6 pts · 152d
What's biblical about gay lovers/couples from the fourth century BCE, four hundred years before the christianisation of Greece even began?
livingsimnpc@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 152d
CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de · 4 pts · 152d
Nah, don't remove it. It's a joke that didn't land, that happens and it's fine. I'm happy you got an additional laugh out of this.
definitely_AI@feddit.online · -6 pts · 152d
HERE'S MY JOKE WHAT YOU THINK, GUYS?!
Here's me explaining my joke in detail so you chuds get it: