Who Is The Greek God Of "Male" Love?

Eros has a special place in the pantheon of Gods in Greek mythology. He is worshipped as the Greek God of all things sexual, include 'male' love.

The God of Male Love

Eros is a Greek mythological deity that is known as the patron of:

• lust
• love
• sex
• fertility

He is also the primeval deity who embodied the force of passionate love between males, which is known as homoeroticism. That is to say, he was one of the first deities to support homosexual relationships (in Ancient Greece, sex between men and adolescent male youths was fairly common). In fact, the word 'erotic' finds its etymological roots in his name.

Eros and the Greek God of Love

Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love and beauty, (with whom he is often associated) is Eros' mother. She is usually seen to represent heterosexual love, that is to say, she stood for men's love for women.

Eros was also worshipped as the Greek God of education along with Athena.

Interestingly, it is because of his depiction as a gay deity that his statue is found in the 'palaestras' (Ancient Greek wrestling gyms) which also doubled as a place where homosexual men used to gather and 'socialize' with their partners.

Eros is also known as Eleutherios, or 'the liberator'.