Greek-male

__GREEK IDEAL MALE__

Ancient Greek society was very complex, but in stories passed on there were many traits given to be the "ideal male". Zeus, the ruler of all people is the base of what all men were supposed to be like. Zeus was promiscuous, sneaky, and scandelous. He slept with any girl he pleased, always going behind his wife's (Hera) back. He was also very powerful, and this was the most common trait shown by Greek men.

The ideal male showed no weaknesses and was brave. On a journey, Thesius could have sailed by water; yet he chose to take the more dangerous route, by land. He did this to prove his bravery and heroic traits. "He could not be a coward, he said. It was for him to fight always in the forefront of the battle." This is showing the bravery of Prince Hector, knowing he would die fighting Achilles yet he fought anyway. Males were also very protective, epecially of their wives. The king, Menelaus started war with Troy because his wife had been stolen from him. This leads into the next trait, men would rather fight than to compromise. Laius and Oedipus crossed ways on a journey, and rather than going around eachother the battled; Oedipus killing Laius. Men were trained fighters, being sent to military schools at the young age of six or seven.

Greek males had very odd ways of showing their love. Many men were subject to "love at first sight", not actually getting to know their wife or spouse. In the story of Jason and the Argonauts, Medea helped out Jason and his fleet in order to get the golden fleece. In return for her help, Jason made her his wife. There was also a tendency for the men to have another male lover. Hercules left the voyage of the Argonauts because his "lover" had been lost. Achilles lover, Patrocleus had died during the Trojan War. This made Achilles furious, and he chose to fight again.

Many men of ancient Greece had short tempers, and were very violent. A good example is Hercules; the most popular hero of Greece. Hercules once did not like a music lesson, so he struck his teacher and killed him. He also killed his wife and children out of impulse and a sudden rage. He also never reasoned with anybody, if something didn't go his way he solved the problem physically.