Introduction

In ancient greece, sexual leaisons between adult men and young boys were an accepted part of civil life. These peterastic relationships were seen as a way of educating young men in the ways of the paulus. A beloved youngster was supposed to show his decency by playing hard to get before finally giving in to the lover. The main benefit for the beloved was that the lover would provide a special of education for the boy. For the young man, the erotic relationship could be a step on the political ladder.