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.

Genres: History

220 pages, Hardcover

Published June 17, 2022

About the author

Was senior lecturer of Classics at Victoria University since 2005. Interested in late antiquity, Roman poetry, sexuality and gender. The latter two well beyond antiquity. Became a Byzantinist in 2013. Was promoted to Associate Professor of Classics in 2021 and retired in 2025. Published two books, Man to Man (Ohio 2014) and Between Byzantine Men (Routledge 2022)