Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates

MaLeE HOMOSEXUALITY

of the few existing fragments (46) he begs someone “to send for the charming Menon, else he would have no enjoyments at the feast”.

4. IBYCUS

Only a few of those who enjoy Schiller’s beautiful ballad of the Cranes of Ibycus, are aware that the hero of the poem, whose death at the hands of a wicked murderer is certain to awaken general sympathy, was called in ancient times “the most frenzied lover of boys” (Suidas, sub Ibycus: € pwTojLaveaTatos mept TO, jeetpaxia), That he did homage to boys all his life, is attested by Cicero (Tusc., iv, 33, 71); even in old age this passion blazed in him to such an extent that Plato expressly drew attention to it (Parmen., 137@) ; an anonymous epigrammatist in the Palatine Anthology refers to him (vii, 714) as a “‘ lover of boys ”, and in the same collection he is mentioned in a short list of lyric writers (ix, 184) as one who, during his life, did “cull the sweet bloom of Persuasion and of the love of lads”. All this is confirmed by his poetry, of which only a few fragments are preserved. Besides those mentioned above (p. 420) the following (frag. 1) may be quoted: “ In spring the quinces, watered by the river streams, bloom in the unspoiled garden of the maidens ; and the first shoots of the vine, guarded beneath shady leaves, grow and blossom ; but for me love—that, like the Thracian north wind, blasting beneath the lightning and rushing, dark and fearless, from Cypris with scorching madness—is never at rest, and holds possession of my mind throughout my life.”

5. ANACREON AND THE ANACREONTEA

Anacreon of Teos, the always cheerful and amiable poet, was born about 560 B.C. ; according to Lucian

470