Blockbuster hits such as 300 and Troy showcase fierce Greek warriors, yet few realize that Leonidas and Achilles also had a decidedly risqué side. In antiquity, sexuality permeated every corner of life—from explicit scenes on pottery to rendezvous with satyrs. The ancient Greeks’ attitudes toward sex differ wildly from modern norms, producing customs that seem downright odd today. Their frankness about desire, same‑sex love, and intimate bonds forged a culture unlike any we know; below are the top 10 weird sexual practices the Greeks indulged in:
Why These Are the Top 10 Weird Practices
10 Very, Very Weird Methods Of Contraception
Modern science has given us reliable birth‑control options, but ancient Greeks relied on a patchwork of superstition and trial‑and‑error. One widely‑circulated trick instructed the woman to sneeze and then gulp something cold right after intercourse—hard to see how that would stop conception, and certainly not a dependable method. Another bizarre technique had a lady jam a wooden plug against her cervix, a decidedly uncomfortable approach. Surprisingly, the Greeks discovered that devouring copious dates and pomegranates around the time of sex could lower fertility; contemporary research confirms those fruits possess compounds that can affect reproductive function. Still, we advise consulting a medical professional for safer, evidence‑based protection.
For those curious about an authentic antiquarian recipe, physician Soranus once advised: “hold her breath, pull her body back just enough to keep the semen from reaching the uterus, then sit with bent knees, a posture that supposedly triggers sneezes.”
9 Public Masturbation Was A Meme
While today most people keep solo pleasure behind closed doors, ancient Greece treated public masturbation as a cheeky form of protest. The eccentric philosopher Diogenes, founder of Cynicism, famously lived in a barrel and answered critics of his public indulgence with a wry remark about soothing hunger by rubbing an empty belly. His unapologetic stance turned the act into a symbol of defiance.
Aristophanes’ comedy Lysistrata even lampooned the Spartans for their enthusiastic self‑pleasure, portraying a scenario where a boisterous herald’s massive erection kick‑started peace negotiations. The play suggests that the Spartans’ penchant for public self‑gratification was both a source of ridicule and a narrative device.
8 Kissing Women Was Considered Weird
Among the many oddities on this list, the notion that a simple kiss could raise eyebrows is surprising. In many Greek city‑states, a kiss served as a common greeting—hand, cheek, even lips—exchanged before business deals. Imagine modern politicians swapping handshakes for quick lip kisses before a summit.
Conversely, a public kiss between a husband and wife was deemed a sign of weakness. The celebrated Athenian leader Pericles faced criticism for openly kissing his spouse, because a kiss implied equality, and women were rarely viewed as equals. Critics feared such displays suggested Pericles might be under his wife’s sway, echoing the trope of the dangerous seductress in Greek literature.
7 State Sponsored Prostitution
Imagine political candidates debating the rates of a government‑run brothel—ancient Greece made that a reality. In Athens, lawmaker Solon regulated prices within state‑funded houses of ill repute, which employed both female and male sex workers. Male workers primarily catered to older patrons, while the establishments offered lower rates than independent street‑walkers, who cleverly left sandal prints spelling “follow me” on the ground.
Affluent citizens could also contract a “mistress”—a courtesan skilled in both physical pleasure and witty conversation. Solon funneled tax revenue from these public brothels into the construction of a temple dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and desire.
6 Pederasty Was Normal
Spartan society, in particular, saw older men forming intimate bonds with adolescent boys during military training. At age seven, boys entered the Agoge, a state‑run program that forged them into elite warriors. Many of these youths experienced their first sexual encounters with male peers, a practice encouraged as a sign of camaraderie.
Scholars debate the extent of adult‑mentor involvement; some argue that relationships were permissible only if they emphasized mentorship over pleasure, while others claim that any consensual activity after puberty was tolerated. The precise prevalence remains murky, but the acceptance of same‑sex bonds was undeniably woven into the social fabric.
5 Drawing Penises Literally Everywhere
Modern bathroom humor pales beside the ancient Greeks’ penchant for phallic imagery. While their statues proudly displayed nudity, they also plastered explicit symbols on everyday objects. One Athenian official was executed for allegedly removing Hermes’ organ from a statue, underscoring how seriously they took such depictions.
Beyond marble, artists painted phalluses on pottery, wine cups, and even on agricultural scenes—one vase portrays a woman tending a field of oversized penises. Drunken revelers likely found these overt jokes amusing during symposiums, where wine‑drinking parties blended philosophy with bawdy laughter.
4 Religion And Sex
Greek polytheism intertwined divinity with desire, especially through Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sensuality. According to myth, she emerged from sea foam created by Uranus’s severed genitals, a tale that literally ties sexuality to creation. Aphrodite’s own affairs—numerous affairs and a pivotal role in the Judgment of Paris—highlight her volatile, seductive nature.
One bizarre myth records that after a man named Glaucus insulted Aphrodite, she cursed his horses with enchanted water, causing them to turn on him during a chariot race. The enraged steeds threw Glaucus, who was then devoured—a grim reminder that offending the gods could have literal, gruesome consequences.
3 Adultery Was Far Worse Than Rape
Even in a culture known for sexual openness, the Greeks treated marital infidelity as a grave offense. Stealing another man’s wife was viewed as theft of property, a crime more severe than assault on an unmarried woman. While sexual assault was condemned, it lacked the same punitive weight because the victim was not considered someone’s possession.
Historian Herodotus notes that adultery demanded vengeance from the betrayed husband, whereas rape did not automatically trigger the same level of retribution. Punishments ranged from public humiliation to outright murder, reflecting the deep value placed on marital ownership.
2 Wild Drinking Parties
The Greek symposium was more than a polite gathering; it was a raucous blend of wine, debate, and occasional debauchery. Between fourteen and twenty‑seven men reclined on cushioned couches, engaging in philosophical discourse that could quickly devolve into drunken chaos. Drinking games, boisterous songs, and wild performances often turned the evening into a frenzy.
Although women were generally barred, wealthy hosts sometimes hired high‑class prostitutes to entertain guests. Musicians and entertainers might also be coaxed into providing sexual favors, blurring the line between intellectual exchange and hedonistic excess.
1 Making Your Wife More Masculine To Appear Attractive
Spartan customs extended beyond male bonds; they also dictated how a bride should present herself to a husband accustomed to same‑sex relationships. On her wedding day, a Spartan woman might shave her head and don male attire, a transformation overseen by a bridesmaid or servant. This masculine presentation was intended to ease the husband’s transition from male‑male intimacy to heterosexual marriage.
Following the makeover, the groom would secretly infiltrate his wife’s chamber under the cover of darkness. The bride would lie beneath a man’s cloak and sandals, while the husband stealthily entered to consummate the marriage—a ritual believed to heighten desire and solidify the union.
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