Homosexuality and Mythology

Abstract

Homosexuality a term used for describing romantic and sexualrelationship among the people of same sex. Previously understood aspsychological disorder in psychiatry, but increasing understanding abouthomosexuality has led to current understanding as a normal variant insexuality. The world comprising of varied geography and cultures also hastheir own way of understanding the phenomena of same sex love. The Indian mythology has mentions about homosexuality from the epic of Ramayana, 'Manusmriti', told about the punishment for homosexuality,whereas the European mythology wrote poetry about the love of Achilles'and Patroclus and Egyptians perceived a submissiveness in malehomosexuality. Aztec mythology patronized homosexuality by givingthem a place among Gods, though on contrary far eastern mythologydepicted homosexuality associated with magical creatures like dragons,rabbits and punitive actions were incorporated. The depiction ofhomosexuality in mythology has been varied throughout the cultures andlands, but a common notion that carried with homosexuality even in themyths was, disapproval of the society, misfortune for the lovers and oftenassociated with magic.