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Homosexuality in the militaries of ancient Greece was a significant aspect across the ancient Greek city-states, ranging from being a core part of military life to being an accepted practice of some individual soldiers. It was regarded as contributing to morale.

Philosophical discourses
Xenophon's views are sympathetic to the idea that the relationship between erastes and eromenos in the military encourages soldiers to be brave, as the eromenos would feel particularly shameful if, while in sight of their erastes, they acted in a cowardly manner. Nevertheless, Xenophon ridiculed militaries that made pairs of lovers the sole basis of unit formation:

Social aspects
Aside from a viewpoint of homosexual bonds as conducive to bravery, these relations are thought to have formed for a number of other reasons. Between some soldiers, who were often away from home and their wives, same-sex relations served as one of many outlets to satisfy their sexual desires. Indeed, marriage was not seen as the relation which would fulfill the erotic desires of either partner. In particular for men, though they were expected to marry, it was normal to engage in extramarital sexual relations.

Homosexual attraction existed in the form of pederasty, which influenced ancient Greek military practices. This usually consisted in romantic relations and mentoring by adult men with male youths. Pederastic relations are thought to have been integrated with Sparta’s overarching “contest-system” or the agoge, which aimed to shape male Spartans into soldiers.

The Spartan general Anaxibius is described as having died fighting with a youth he loved by his side, though the origin or social status of this youth is unclear as they are not described as a soldier. This relationship may have been an uncharacteristic extension of pederastic feeling to a youth who was not necessarily Spartan or a member of the elite, considering how they were accompanying rather than fighting alongside Anaxibius.