this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2026
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Context: in classical Greece, Sparta built a hegemony based on its military power that was formed around a core of professional hoplites, which was rare at the time as most military campaigns were fought by part time soldiers who were mainly farmers, handymen, etc.
This hegemony was broken when in Thebes the Sacred Band of Thebes was formed, consisting of 150 gay couples who became professional soldiers, too. These 300 (coincidence? Idk, but I find it funny) elite warriors were instrumental in two major defeats an outnumbered thebian army handed to Spartans who encountered another professional military for the first time.
The Sacred Band being made up of gay couples was intentional, as the idea behind it was that men would fight harder for and with other men they had a strong bond with and there was no stronger bond than love.

Idolizing spartan warrior culture is widespread among "alpha males" and the manosphere. Another funny irony that followers and propagators of such a homophobic idiology idolize a culture that was defeated by an explicitly gay warrior unit.

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[–] BillyClark@piefed.social 76 points 5 months ago (1 children)

If Andrew Tate is such a tough guy, why is he so focused on women? A real alpha male would go after strong men, not like those pussy loving straight guys.

[–] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 49 points 5 months ago (2 children)

The Spartans were also gay.

[–] DarkDinner@quokk.au 33 points 5 months ago

And practiced child rape as a core part of their social structure... Same as Americans.

[–] KingGimpicus@sh.itjust.works 18 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Well its not gay if youre on top, according to sources at the time. Giving a fucking was manly, but taking a fucking was feminine.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 11 points 5 months ago

all that tradition, destroyed by one innovation:

THE POWER BOTTOM

[–] nightwatch_admin@feddit.nl 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] KingGimpicus@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 months ago

Rome came much later.

The mindset is actually still alive today. A lot of central and south american countries still have this mindset due to Portuguese and Spanish influence over the centuries. I watched a documentary years back talking about the history and origins of machismo in Latin culture.

[–] arrow74@lemmy.zip 2 points 5 months ago

Simpler times

[–] areakode@riskeratspizza.com 24 points 5 months ago

He hates women so much, he's turning gay...

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 15 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 13 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I know. I put those words there.

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 7 points 5 months ago (2 children)

"ALPHA MALES" WHEN WHEN THEY'RE TOLD THEIR FANTASY SPARTAN ROLEMODELS WHERE DEFEATED BY A UNIT OF ELITE GAY WARRIORS

[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's a boomer inspired meme that is now viral. They think it's funny. Ignore it.

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

well, explaining jokes makes them more funny

so maybe they’ll appreciate me pointing this
this out

[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Yes I know. I put that meme in there on purpose.

[–] SnowmenMelt@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

So why ? the comment that noticed it?

[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 5 months ago

I wasn't sure they got the meme or thought this was an accident and I didn't want to be too in the nose, so I wanted to drag this out a little to be sure.

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

mission accomplished

[–] Jerb322@lemmy.world 14 points 5 months ago (1 children)
[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Yes, the Sacred Band of Thebes was a military unit.

[–] Jerb322@lemmy.world 10 points 5 months ago
[–] blockheadjt@sh.itjust.works 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Where defeated?

There, defeated! There, castle!

[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 5 months ago

Dang, missed that.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 10 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Didnt the Spartans famously practice homosexuality as a way of strengthening bonds between soldiers? The reasoning being that you'd fight extra hard for the guy next to you if you were lovers.

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 7 points 5 months ago

They, and ancient Greek soldiers in general, also took young boys "under their wings" oh and had sex with them. Because humanity is deeply, horribly fucked up.

[–] Bieren@lemmy.today 9 points 5 months ago

Like they would accept historical facts and not the bullshit they make up on the spot.

[–] KeenFlame@feddit.nu 9 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I am totally out of the loop on the manosphere but do they really adore spartans? I think they adore the americanized movie version, sure, but do they like actually learn from real Spartan history because there would be truly a lot of homosexuality involved then

[–] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 5 points 5 months ago

Of course they're talking about not only the American version, but even that twisted to fit their own ideals.

[–] titanicx@lemmy.zip 3 points 5 months ago

I bet Epstein and his followers, loved Spartans... Oh wait, they do....

[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 7 points 5 months ago

What's manlier then two men? Besides increasing multiples of men, of course.

[–] plyth@feddit.org 5 points 5 months ago

There is more:

by Plutarch's account, this included sexual violence by hēbōntes against paides,[2] while Xenophon says the relationships were widely but wrongly considered to be sexual.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agoge

[–] psycho_driver@lemmy.world 3 points 5 months ago

The Spartans were all gay or bi too.

[–] ImWaitingForRetcons@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Bonus fact: there was a lot of homosexuality in the Spartan armies too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_militaries_of_ancient_Greece

[–] Mulligrubs@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago

Wait until they find out about the Spartans.

OH DEAR

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 2 points 5 months ago

As always, the alpha got mogged by a figglebottom