Sacred Band of Thebes

An army comprised of 150 pairs of homosexual lovers. The army won every battle until it was finally defeated by Philip of Macedonia and his son Alexander the Great. When Philip saw the lovers dead side by side, he wept and said, "Perish any man who suspects that these men either did or suffered any thing that was base." He then buried them with honor. Plato wrote about their code of ethics.

"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, abstaining from all dishonour, and emulating one another in honour; 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." Plato: "Symposium"

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