Was Achilles gay? Was he in a relationship with Patroclus?
09/08/25 10:09pm
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There’s no consensus about whether or not Achilles was gay. However, many people believe that he was, due to his close connection with his best friend Patroclus. In The Iliad, Homer describes their relationship as incredibly deep and meaningful, but there isn’t explicit confirmation that the pair were lovers. Many queer studies scholars argue that their romantic relationship is heavily implied, while others argue that there’s no definitive textual evidence for this.
Regardless, the speculated romance between Achilles and Patroclus has inspired modern retellings, including the popular novel The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. The word “Achillean” is also sometimes used as another word for “gay” or “MLM” (men loving men) by members of the queer community.
We might not know for sure whether Homer intended for Achilles to be gay, but what do you think?
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Regardless, the speculated romance between Achilles and Patroclus has inspired modern retellings, including the popular novel The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. The word “Achillean” is also sometimes used as another word for “gay” or “MLM” (men loving men) by members of the queer community.
We might not know for sure whether Homer intended for Achilles to be gay, but what do you think?
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