Requiem For Athens

by David Alkek

  "I love you, Phidias," his mother said. She hugged him then wiped a tear that had fallen on her cheek. “You are becoming a man before my eyes."

  His sister also kissed him. "I love you too big brother.” He squeezed her back with a big grin.

  Phidias’ brothers gushed with admiration and touched parts of his uniform. "Tell us everything, Phidias," the older one said. "I can't wait to be an ephebos."

  The whole family, except his older brother, Meletus, who was an elder ephebos and was not at home, ate together that night, and Phidias' father allowed everyone to drink some of his best wine. It was watered down for the women and younger boys. They drank to Phidias’ health, glad to have him home for a while.

  The next day, Phidias walked with his brothers over their fields and told them of his life as an ephebos. "We are drilled strenuously, from dawn until we fall exhausted into our bunks at dark. We also must attend lectures on geometry, how to reason and argue, which they call rhetoric. Also, we study Greek literature and music. We govern ourselves. We meet in our own assembly and elect our own leaders, generals, and judges. Of course these are usually older epheboi."

  "You ever have time when you can rest or enjoy yourselves?" asked one of his brothers.

  "We sometimes meet and sing in groups. Our regiment practices and gives a performance to the whole group. But our first year is mostly physical training, and it’s really demanding. Athens believes in producing well-rounded citizens, strong in body as well as mind. Next year, I will be assigned garrison duty on the frontier."

  "Will you be afraid?" asked his youngest brother.

  "I don't think so. I'll be ready by then. We can defend ourselves if we have to." Phidias could see the pride in the way his brothers looked at him. He threw back his shoulders, tossed his long curls across his back, and smiled broadly. He clapped his hand on the older of his brother’s back and said, "You'll be an ephebos one day, and you'll be trained to fight, too." For two years, the young men were entrusted with the early defense of Athens against attack from without or from disorder within.

  While on garrison duty, Phidias had to take his turn at standing watch at night. It was considered a serious dereliction of duty to fall asleep while on watch. For a soldier during war, he could be put to death. For an ephebos, he was whipped and expelled from the regiment. During his duty as watchman, he noticed his fellow guard, an older youth starting to nod.

  Phidias walked over and stood beside him, "That was quite a dinner we had tonight." He started a polite conversation as if he didn't notice his fellow nodding.

  Instantly alert, the youth replied, "Yeah, I guess I had one cup of wine too many. I'm glad to have your company tonight, Phidias." He knew Phidias would not use this episode against him.

  Phidias was known to be a fair-minded young man. He didn't abuse his authority over younger boys or try to undermine or talk against his older colleagues. He had many friends who knew of his keen intellect and sense of humor. When a youth stepped out of bounds, Phidias was known to take him aside and remind him of the virtues that make an Athenian citizen. But, he did it in a sincere way, without a condescending lecture. The other youth always took his advice, for Phidias lived according to what he said.

  At the assembly near the end of Phidias' nineteenth year, when they were electing their officers for the next term, one of the older youths rose to speak. "I nominate Phidias, son of Aristippus, to be a judge."

  Phidias stood and was recognized. "I thank my brother ephebos, but I am only nineteen and not as experienced as older epheboi."

  The youth that nominated him told the assembly of Phidias' intelligence and judgment in several circumstances. Another added, "Phidias shows much control over his emotions and is not easily angered. He balances intelligence with good judgment and a sense of humor."

  Another added, "He has been a good example to us all, because he is virtuous in his actions and loyal to his friends."

  The first youth added, "I nominate him because he will be a fair and discerning judge."

  The chief judge, who was one of the eldest of the epheboi said, "Indeed, Phidias shows more maturity at his age than many men twice his age. He will make a very fine judge indeed.”

  The assembly elected him judge, and during the next two years, the other judges looked up to him for guidance. He was elected chief judge his last year.

  At the end of their time as epheboi, the youth, approaching the age of twenty-one, participated in a deeply meaningful ceremony. All of Athens turned out for the sacred and colorful event. The participating youth were spaced along the route from the port of Piraeus to Athens’ gate. They were all dressed in short, belted chitons that bared their arms, and carried unlit torches.

  In the marketplace of Piraeus, a priest of Athena and the chief of the Assembly both lit the torch of the general of the epheboi. He then ran to the next youth about fifty yards away. After lighting his torch, they ran to the next, and so on, until the last youth at the gate of the city was joined by the whole class of torch-bearing epheboi.

  They were led through the city to the Temple of Agraulos, where they placed their torches in holders around the inside of the edifice. After four years as comrades who shared meals, discipline, fun, and a maturing friendship, they considered each other as brothers. They had been instructed to encircle the altar and stretch out their arms over it. The flickering light of the torches revealed the solemn emotions enveloping these handsome young men.

  They then recited the oath required of all men, who would become citizens of Athens. "I will not disgrace the sacred arms, nor will I abandon the man next to me, whoever he may be. I will transmit my native city not lessened, but larger and better than I received it. I will obey those who are judges, and the established laws, and whatever regulations the people may enact. If anyone shall attempt to destroy the statutes, I will not permit it, but will repel him both alone and with all. I will honor the ancestral faith."

  After their training as epheboi was completed, they were officially free from parental authority, and admitted as full citizens of Athens.

  Phidias and the other youth entered into the active political and social life of Athens, and they continued to exercise their bodies as well as their minds. One day after exercising at the gymnasium, Phidias and some other young men were standing around talking and joking while they were drying off before putting their clothes back on.

  Hippias took his friend, Phidias, aside and said, “Lysias, Agelaus and I have been invited to attend a dinner at the house of Myrtilas tonight. I was told to bring a friend. Myrtilas, as you know is extremely wealthy. The food ought to be very good. You can also expect that there will be auletrides for our entertainment. Will you come?”

  "I have no other plans tonight. I think I'll join you. Some good food and wine will be a good reward for our hard exercise."

  "And don't forget the pretty auletrides," said Hippias.

  "Oh of course," said Phidias. "Maybe we can ask our host for a private room, so we can mingle with the girls after the dinner." He grinned and winked.

  Hippias laughed and slapped him on the back. “You’re always thinking, Phidias, but thinking of what?” They laughed together.

  The four young men met and walked out to Myrtilas’ villa perched on one of the hills outside the walls. “I understand that our host is very rich,” said Lysias.

  “He owns a fleet of merchant ships that trade all over the Mediterranean. He has houses on Lesbos and in Syracuse as well as this huge estate in Athens,” said Agelaus. “It is said that he has over 100 slaves and supports two well-known hetairai, who are very cultured courtesans. He’s unmarried, although his children from his dead wife are grown and live in Asia.”

  "I can't wait to see his house," said Phidias.

  "And the auletrides," said Hippias.

  They laughed and joked their way to the villa. From the main road they followed a torch-lit path to the gate in the wall surrounding the estate and rang the bell. A tall, muscu
lar black slave, stripped to the waist, admitted them and escorted them to the house, where they were greeted by a handsome, young, white, male slave also bare-chested. He sported a gold hoop in one ear and his body shone with scented oil.

  The young visitors whispered to one another pointing out the expensive mosaics, art and furnishings. They were escorted into a large room with couches for the guests against the walls. Two men would share each couch where they would eat while reclining. In the center of the room were eight beautiful young women. Their hair was braided and tied up by ribbons of many colors, gold earrings dangling from their ears. They were dressed in thin cotton skirts that barely covered their thighs. Tied by pins at the shoulders, the short dresses were gathered at the waist by gold braided ropes. The opening that was left in the middle of the chest came to the waist and allowed the youthful breasts to peak out and sometimes become completely exposed. The girls seemed to encourage this titillating show.

  The young men’s eyes filled with excitement and they could hardly concentrate, as they met their host and were introduced to the other men. Half-naked slaves brought around trays of wine and appetizers. After some pleasant conversation, their host asked his guests to take the places he appointed them. Myrtilas had taken a liking to Phidias during his conversation with him. “Phidias, you come share my couch.”

  During the dinner the auletrides played light flute music while the men ate and discussed politics, literature and philosophy. As the dinner wore on, the wine was diluted less and less until it was being served full strength.

  When the epikomen, the sweet dessert, was served the girls started to dance. Toward the end they pranced around the room, flitting from couch to couch, caressing faces, giggling and allowing a kiss on a hand or shoulder. The young men were all aroused by the sensual show. They had heard of such dinners but had never participated in such a lavish one.

  After they finished their dance, Myrtilas said, “It looks like we could all enjoy a warm bath, and perhaps a cold splash for the young men.” Everyone laughed. He assured them, “The girls will still be here afterward and for the rest of the night.”

  The men carried their newly-filled wine cups and followed Myrtilas to the large enclosed bath, really a small pool. Benches and hooks for clothes lined the room, while slaves brought fresh towels. The men stripped and stepped into the hot bath still joking or talking.

  The younger men horsed around, playing, splashing, throwing cold water from standing vases at one another, and imbibing several more glasses of wine. After a time, Hippias said, “I’m not feeling too well. My stomach is cramping.”

  Myrtilas motioned to a slave who quickly took Hippias into the courtyard, where he could vomit. “He’ll be all right,” said the host. “A little too much wine and excitement for one who is not used to it. I guess he won’t be able to enjoy the rest of the evening. Too bad.” The young men calmed down and started conversations with the older men.

  Phidias sat on the side of the pool talking with Myrtilas about his fleets and the ports that they visit, water from his dark curls dripping down his broad, tanned shoulders. His fit and youthful body contrasted to the older man’s pale skin and portly belly covered with dark hair. Phidias was anxious to experience the world outside of Athens, and devoured all talk of foreign places, like a hungry dog presented with raw meat.

  “You have undoubtedly been exercising your athletic and military skills,” said Myrtilas. “You have a good, solid physique,” as he felt Phidias arm and chest.

  “Thank you sir. I am proud of my physical strength, but also wish to improve my mental skills.”

  “Are you also proud of these?” said Myrtilas as he reached between Phidias’ thighs.

  Phidias caught his wrist and gently pushed it aside. He smiled and said, "I use them for women only."

  "Why only women? You can enjoy the company of men like me in more than just eating and conversing."

  Phidias looked around and noticed that all of the other guests had melted away. He didn’t know if his young friends were with the auletrides or with the older men. "Pardon me sir, but I am not inclined to have that kind of relationship."

  “And why not? It is common practice for a rich, older man to take a youth into his home. Come live with me and I will give you many nice things. And you can call me Myrtilas.”

  “Thank you, Myrtilas, but my father is getting old. If my father’s health fails, I must help my older brother and take care of my mother and younger brothers and sister.”

  “That can be arranged.”

  “Pardon me, sir, I mean Myrtilas, but isn’t it in the statutes that a person who has a relationship of this kind with his own sex is banned from serving in public office?”

  “How foolish you are,” he chuckled. “You may be too young to realize that the public is cynical, and turns a blind eye as men get around that law. Look at the notorious Alcibiades. He lived during the great Peloponnesian war between Athens and Sparta and was a leader and general after Pericles died. He was openly homosexual, if I may use the term.

  “As a matter of fact, I can help your political career. I have need of a handsome, intelligent man in the service of Athens. You could help me in my business affairs.”

  “I appreciate that, but I have no desire at this time to enter public service and have no interest in business. I am still young and, as you say, inexperienced. I must learn more about the political side of life. After all, I’ve been separated from it while an ephebos. Maybe after I’ve learned more about Athenian government, I will become active in it. Now it's getting late and I must go back alone into the city.” He was anxious to leave a conversation that had become embarrassing to him. “I appreciate your offer of friendship and would like to always consider you a friend if I may.”

  “I admire your strength of character. Not every young man in your position would refuse my offer. Yes, I will remain your friend. Call on me if you need anything. The slave will show you out. He will walk home with you with a torch if you like.”

  “Thank you, Myrtilas, for all your hospitality.” Phidias rose, dressed and left.

  Homosexuality was commonly accepted in ancient Greece and was attributed by some contemporaries to a fear of overpopulation. More than likely, it had to do with the exclusivity of male social life. Young men knew only other men and prostitutes, and no women other than their mother and sisters, until they were married. After marriage all political, and intellectual contact was with other men, and occasionally professional courtesans, the hetairi.

  By the time Phidias was a young adult, religious cynicism and moral decay in Athens was growing along with the increase in luxury and the political turmoil. The rich and intelligent classes lost their faith in the traditional gods, while the masses still clung to their myths. However, new faiths imported from Egypt and Asia competed with the old Olympian gods. As the traditional religion lost its moral control, individuals felt freed from moral restraints. People were no longer ruled by strong moral scruples or civic devotion. The rich were obsessed with protecting their wealth, while the lower classes were equally obsessed with ways to take it from them.

  Phidias was aware of the social and political conflicts that were unraveling the fabric of Athens' society. The dinner at Myrtilas' villa opened his eyes wider to the seedy underside of his city. For many days after his experience there, he wondered about it. His thoughts brought many questions to his troubled mind.

  What did he really think about sexual relationships, the morals of wealthy, and the gritty reality of Athenian politics? It was all so confusing. What were his own values? What did he really want to do with his life? He didn't want to join the young men who had no direction in their lives. He would find his way, discover what he wanted, and fulfill his promise.

  Chapter 4

  It was some months after Phidias had dinner with Myrtilas, that he met him on the streets of the city and was pleasant to the man, without encouraging anything further. Phidias immersed himself into public life, d
iscussing politics, and going to dinners and symposia. He realized that he didn't know as much about literature, or philosophy, or foreign lands than many of the older men. He absorbed as much as he could from them, but wanted more.

  He was enjoying dinner one evening with his family. After the meal, Aristippus excused his wife and daughter. So, the men could continue their discussion.

  "Athens is going to have a war with Thebes," said Aristippus. " Epaminondas’ strategy completely defeated the Spartans. That had never been done. Now Thebes has become too powerful.”

  "What will Athens do, Papa?" a younger son asked.

  "Athens will form an alliance with Sparta," explained his father. “It's always the two weaker cities against the stronger."

  "Will you fight again, Papa?" another boy asked.

  "No, I am too old, but Meletus and Phidias will fight."

  "No, I won't," said Meletus, raising his voice. "Let Athens hire more mercenaries. Why should I spill my blood? What has Athens done for me except tax my father into poverty?" He pounded his fist on the table and reached for his wine cup.

  "What do you mean, what has Athens done for you?" Aristippus exploded. "You are a spoiled son who has taken the prosperity and education and culture of the greatest city in the world for granted. You live well because of your trade in goods. You have not even married."

  "Yes, Meletus, when will you marry and move your family out to the estate?” Phidias asked. "Father will need you more since he is getting older."

  "I don't care to yet," Meletus replied.

  "You are living with a woman, aren't you?" his father said between clenched teeth.

  "So what if I am.” He was defiant. “Many men of my age and older have taken women. Why do I have to marry? To have children? For what? So they can be marched off to fight? Many Athenian women try to avoid pregnancy and if they do carry a baby, will abandon it. I am happy with my life, and I don't care what you or Athens says about it."

  "How dare you talk that way," Phidias raised his voice in anger. "You took an oath as an ephebos, or don't you remember? You promised to protect your city and to improve it by your citizenship."