Eros: Love-life in Ancient Greece

by Stella Kalogeraki

Gods and heroes full of weaknesses fall in love and ‘suffer’ just like mortals. Humans are captives of primordial passion, but free to express it and channel it at will. Worshippers of the beautiful, of the ‘good’, of the comely, they live, teach, learn and fall in love without pausing for breath, without respite, all within a single framework - a ‘totality’ that is complete, and primarily qualitative. Philosophers deep in their musings, ‘seeking’ love, pleasure, true happiness…Women in seclusion, but mistresses of the most fundamental microcosm, marriage and the family. Women free to offer their bodies in an exchange or for payment, within a strictly defined legal framework. Temple prostitutes, courtesans, concubines, harlots, native or foreign, of little culture, of great culture, powerful women, not so powerful women - with clear and designated roles, they participate actively in the fabric of society. And above all - artists, sculptors, painters, and vase-painters ‘observe’ and ‘record’, their eyes and their tools capturing erotic moments of the present, historical sources of the future…

Genres: Nonfiction, History

115 pages, Unknown Binding

First published October 3, 2014

Reviews

[Thijs Werkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een interessant en informatief boek over ‘love life’ in het oude Griekenland. Er wordt wel aandacht besteed hoe we aan informatie komen maar het had iets uitgebreider gemogen.

[Raluca Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book in the museum shop of the New Acropolis Museum while visiting Athens and the Acropolis. It has plenty of information and sketches of scenes from ancient vases depicting erotic encounters. I recommend reading it together with Daily Life in Greece at the Time of Pericles or Traveller's Guide to the Ancient World: Greece in the year 415 BCE or anything else related to the subject. That is because while this little book is good, it sometimes presents only some aspects of the stories/myths and there are many versions of them. Still, a worthwhile and amusing read, full of imaginative illustrations.

[Jul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ja pierdole pierwsza książka w tym roku XDDDDDD

[Franco Jaramillo]

Not bad, it is quite informative about how the old Greeks used to understand sex,love,marriage and mythology. The part I found interesting was to know they were not so open to the male homosexuality.

[s.has · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up while in Greece and it was a very interesting read. The cover raises some eyebrows when I read in public. Lol

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Sam Kiely · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at ancient Greek love culture. Could do with another look over as some of the translations didn't make sense. Certainly a great introduction to the concepts of Greek love and sex.

[Bin · Rating 4 out of 5]

把古希腊所有和爱有关的东西都提了一遍，还有些哲学理论，小而全，不错

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book. It challenges the idea that modern society “invented” sexual life. The Ancient Greeks were actually far more open than we are about sexuality.

[Marija · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sometimes presents only some aspects of the stories/myths and there are many versions of them. Also, presents ideas about love of some of the most famous greek philosophers.
This book importantly points out there are lots of depictions that show the courtesans in orgies were often being forced and reluctant. It’s not some idealised open and respectful expression but more like institutionalised rape... as is ultimately always the reality of prostitution.
Needs more Alkibiades.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I didn’t realise that temples became brothels. This happened in India as well and it’s easy to imagine some sort of spiritual orgy attempting to communicate with the divine be it Bacchus or Shakti, but the reality is likely much more sordid. This book importantly points out there are lots of depictions that show the courtesans in orgies were often being forced and reluctant. It’s not some idealised open and respectful expression but more like institutionalised rape... such is ultimately always the reality of prostitution. In a world where the woman had no power, like the young boys, it was impossible for them to exchange intimate pleasures freely.