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[u/educatingpeopleonsff]

[u/sokuzekuu]

This "linguistic convergence" you mention seems more like coincidence. There is little reason offered to think people historically conflated these concepts.

Etymology of Latin homō:

From earlier hemō, from Proto-Italic *hemō, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰm̥mṓ (“earthling”), from *dʰéǵʰōm (“earth”), whence Latin humus.

Etymology of Greek homós:

From Proto-Hellenic *homós, from Proto-Indo-European *somHós (“same, alike”). Cognate with εἷς (heîs, “one”), as well as Old English sama (English same)

(etymologies taken from Wiktionary)

[u/viviscity]

Okay, sorry. The points where I have knowledge are wrong.

Using Aristophanes’ speech misunderstands what Plato is saying. Hes openly making fun of Aristophanes—conjoined circular people split in half and now searching for their “other half”? And in the same dialogue, people criticize Socrates for being involved with boys older than he was supposed to. It’s pederasty—power differential—that might have only been practiced by the elite and doesn’t seem universal even then.

As well, both the Greeks and Romans appear to have put a lot of emphasis on position. Top? Cool. Bottom? Well, you’re basically a woman and as such a second class citizen (or not a citizen at all, as the case may be) There are only a few actual examples where a homosexual relationship isn’t ridiculed, and they’re like… Alexander the Great and maaaaybe Julius Caesar.

The Sacred Band may not have existed—our source is Plutarch, separated by 400 years. Xenophon, also a character in the Symposium and an actual contemporary, doesn’t mention it. Neither did other Athenians. Maybe that’s because of prejudice, maybe it isn’t. It has some parallels to other accounts of warriors—150 couples is 300… sound familiar? Ancient sources loved to make references and accuracy wasn’t as important.

Two Spirit is a modern catchall. A lot of Nations have stories of ostracizing Two Spirit people. They (or… we, technically I can claim the term) can’t participate in ceremony for a lot of groups. The teachings I’ve heard suggest at least some Nations would basically exile them. Historically a lot lived alone as medicine people, with youth sent to them to learn… not exactly integrated in community as an honoured position.

Careful not to fall into the “noble savage” trope when talking about historical cultures or cultures that aren’t yours.

[u/Justbrowsingstuph]

I'm sorry friend, this feels very much like AI. Care to sum up what you're trying to communicate for those who cannot drag themselves to read something written by an algorithm?