Within The Symposium, there is evidence that argues that the love shared between two men is the most lucrative kind of relationship. More specifically, the nurturing of a older man to a younger man is argued to cultivate the social aspects most important to male development. Phaedrus asserts that the purer nature of a male-male relationship implies that the love is more natural, therefore stronger, and more ingrained within the mind and body. It is clear that during these times, the idea of being gay is not a characteristic of one’s character unlike our society today.
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I agree with you that love shared between two men is described as the beneficial kind of relationship. This can be seen in example of Alcibiades, who wanted to learn everything from Socrates in exchange of offering him himself. Also, Pausanias mentions in his speech that love between older lover and young men is honorable only if the loved one performs any service or favor of lover who in turn should make young men wiser and better. It is evident indeed that Athens had different understandings regarding the relationships back then.