In the present article, we will use the second approach, although we won't ignore the first one. The synchronistic approach: scholars concentrate upon homosexuality in fifth and fourth-century Athens, where it was integral part of social life.Usually, a lot of fantasy is required, because our sources do not often refer to these ancient rites.
The historical approach: scholars are looking for the (hypothetical) roots of pederasty in very ancient initiation rites and try to reconstruct a development.Dover published his influential book Greek Homosexuality in 1978, an avalanche of new studies has appeared. Violent debate, enthusiastic writings, shamefaced silence, flights of fantasy: few aspects of ancient society are so hotly contested as Greek pederasty, or - as we shall see below - homosexuality. In ancient Greece, this was a normal practice. Homosexuality: sexual attraction to persons of the same sex.
