This was so interesting to read. I've always been fascinated by this story, and I understand the need to name what it was as you said. I think now we have this concept of the story, more romantic than centuries ago. Maybe because of the Madeline Miller book, maybe because of the importance it has to the LGBTQ community. It's so interesting to see the shift in the interpretation of the story throughout history tho
Thank you! I'm happy you liked it!! Yes there is something so modern about the story, about all Greek myth in general. There are always new details to discover.
Its funny this article showed up while am in the last chapter of The silence of the girls…. I see her in every painting. Nonetheless I love how you explained the art depending on the time artist/writer lived in, gives a new scope to reading
The way you address every period’s framework and intentions through which they tell the story of Achilles and Patroclus is sooo, sooo good—especially as we talk about them in the present, where there is “no ambiguity,” and they must fit into a box, just so brilliant 🙂↕️
Thank you for writing this.I've been revisiting a lot of the works of the ancient world, and I can help but notice how quite gay a lot of it is. Not just Achilles and patroclus, but also the Romance of Jonathan and David in the old testament jumps off the page as well. There are queer pairings in Platos works in abundance. One of my favorite stories has Socrates advising a young man who has just received a love letter, and he is "like, dude, so many red flags here"
Haha yes! I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways humans can understand sexuality. In the ancient world, liking the same sex meant something completely different than it does today, and that makes the study of these relationships feel like reading the secret diaries of humanity.
I'm glad we live in a time when we can actually interrogate these ideas outside of the realm of "I guess they were just besties " see also Virginia woolf, Emily Dickinson...
This was so interesting to read. I've always been fascinated by this story, and I understand the need to name what it was as you said. I think now we have this concept of the story, more romantic than centuries ago. Maybe because of the Madeline Miller book, maybe because of the importance it has to the LGBTQ community. It's so interesting to see the shift in the interpretation of the story throughout history tho
Thank you! I'm happy you liked it!! Yes there is something so modern about the story, about all Greek myth in general. There are always new details to discover.
Fascinating
Its funny this article showed up while am in the last chapter of The silence of the girls…. I see her in every painting. Nonetheless I love how you explained the art depending on the time artist/writer lived in, gives a new scope to reading
Beautiful. My favourite boys;) I totally agree. Heartily.
Thank you!! Madeline Miller has some magic power, she makes these characters so real and personal to us, I can’t get them out of my head.
Indeed)) I have things on them
Boys here) hope you like them
The way you address every period’s framework and intentions through which they tell the story of Achilles and Patroclus is sooo, sooo good—especially as we talk about them in the present, where there is “no ambiguity,” and they must fit into a box, just so brilliant 🙂↕️
Oh my gosh thank you so much🥰 I’m so glad you liked it! I love that we can still discuss and connect over these ancient stories ❤️
Well written and insightful take, especially the section about how myths become repurposed
Thank you so much! There can never be enough said about these myths 😊
Thank you for writing this.I've been revisiting a lot of the works of the ancient world, and I can help but notice how quite gay a lot of it is. Not just Achilles and patroclus, but also the Romance of Jonathan and David in the old testament jumps off the page as well. There are queer pairings in Platos works in abundance. One of my favorite stories has Socrates advising a young man who has just received a love letter, and he is "like, dude, so many red flags here"
Haha yes! I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways humans can understand sexuality. In the ancient world, liking the same sex meant something completely different than it does today, and that makes the study of these relationships feel like reading the secret diaries of humanity.
I'm glad we live in a time when we can actually interrogate these ideas outside of the realm of "I guess they were just besties " see also Virginia woolf, Emily Dickinson...