Going to war with one's lover

[allmywires]

I'm definitely sure I read, once upon a long time ago, that the Ancient Greeks/Romans would go to war with their lovers as some kind of motivation for victory (vague I know). I can't however find any reference to this on the Internet, so I'm wondering - did I make it up or was this real? There's reference to it in my WIP, so if it is something that happened, I'd like to do some reading up on it. If not, then I guess I'll have to do what I do best...make it up.

[Mouse]

I dunno but it sounds dead romantical.

[allmywires]

I know right? I'm half-hoping I made it up. Probably reading too much into Alexander and Hephastion or something like that.

[HareBrain]

Oh, I read the title as meaning "against".

Anyway, you're possibly after the Theban Band.

[allmywires]

Muchas gracias HB! Knew I wasn't imagining it...

eta: ahhh, Alexander was involved too. it's all coming together

[Mouse]

Blimey, even I've heard of that. (Not that I remembered it!)

[springs]

Marion Zimmer Bradley's the Catchtrap makes reference to this - that in ancient Greek a younger and older man often paired together, with the hope to inspire each other onto greater things. Don't know much else about it, but she's usually pretty well researched...

[Mouse]

Makes me think of Oscar Wilde. Was something he used to go on about, I think.

[allmywires]

It was this I'd heard before, I think, from Plato's Symposium:

And if there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their loves, they would be the very best governors of their own city ... and when fighting at each other's side, although a mere handful, they would overcome the world. For what lover would not choose rather to be seen by all mankind than by his beloved, either when abandoning his post or throwing away his arms? He would be ready to die a thousand deaths rather than endure this. Or who would desert his beloved or fail him in the hour of danger? The veriest coward would become an inspired hero, equal to the bravest, at such a time; Love would inspire him.

No idea where though! (Definitely haven't read any Plato, recently or ever.)

[Mouse]

How lovely's that?! I'm getting soft in my old age.

[allmywires]

Originally Posted by Mouse

How lovely's that?! I'm getting soft in my old age.

It is lovely, even at my sprightly young age Now how to work those quotes in without quoting Plato, as he doesn't exist in my world...

[David Evil Overlord]

I like that idea so much, I think I'm going to steal it.

(The lover-as-comrade-in-arms, not the soft Mouse or the sprightly young Allmywires. )

[springs]

Captain Corelli's Mandolin has a nice take on it - only one is gay, but the ideal is absolutely central to him..

[allmywires]

Originally Posted by springs1971

Captain Corelli's Mandolin has a nice take on it - only one is gay, but the ideal is absolutely central to him..

Carlo Francesco oh it's so sad.

come to think of it, perhaps that was where I'd heard it? I wish I still had my copy of it to check.

[springs]

Such a chore, having to look up Corelli's. (I love it, would read it all day...)

"Yes, I have read everything, looking for evidence that I exist, that I am a possibility. And do you know where I found myself? Do you know where I found out that I was, in another vanished world, beautiful and true? It was in the writings of a Greek...

"And I found Phaedrus explaining 'if there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their loves....and when fighting at one another's side, although a mere handful, they would overcome the world. For what lover would not prefer rather to be seen by all mankind than by his beloved, either by abandoning his post or throwing away his arms. He would be ready to die a thousand deaths than endure this. ....Love will make men dare to die for their beloved - Love alone."


page 14 btw.