Between Byzantine Men: Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval Empire

by Mark Masterson

The presence and importance of same-sex desire between men in the Byzantine Empire has been understudied. While John Boswell and others tried to open a conversation about desire between Byzantine men decades ago, the field reverted to emphasis on prohibition and an inability to read the evidence of same-sex desire between men in the sources.　Between Byzantine Desire, Homosociality, and Brotherhood in the Medieval Empire　challenges and transforms this situation by placing at centre stage Byzantine　men's desiring relations with one another.

　

This book foregrounds desire between men in and around the imperial court of the 900s. Analysis of Greek sources (many untranslated until now)　and of material culture reveals a situation both more liberal than the medieval West and important for its rite of brother-making (adelphopoiesis), which was a precursor to today’s same-sex marriage. This book transforms our understanding of Byzantine elite men's culture and is an important addition to the history of sex and desire between men.

　

Between Byzantine Men will appeal to scholars and general readers who are interested in Byzantine History, Society, and Culture, the History of Masculinity, and the History of Sexuality.

Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2022

Reviews

[Apollōn · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a profoundly ignorant book! The rite of brother-making (adelphopoiesis) rendered its participants brothers in the eyes of the Church. It was not a "precursor to today’s same-sex marriage", as the author outrageously claims, as is clearly shown by the fact that an analogous rite employed for individuals of different sex permanently precluded any subsequent marriage. Any sexual relations between individuals joined in this manner were viewed as tantamount to incest.

Had the author bothered to look into the rite in question a little further, instead of giving letting his agenda get the better of him, he would know that is has survived into the modern age, and that the rite employed between men and women was ended some decades ago precisely due to issues stemming from the fact that it rendered marriage between participants impossible.

[Danijel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It appears that the author has conducted an exhaustive search for specific details in particular contexts. Significant effort has been devoted to substantiating personal interpretations of certain individuals and events, potentially overlooking alternative perspectives that may be more fitting to the historical context. Upon reading this book, my conviction regarding Basil II’s sexuality has diminished rather than strengthened, contrary to the author’s intent to persuade.