TIL Florentine society during Renaissance tacitly accepted male homosexuality but had a rigid rule: passive/receptive partner must be under 20 years of age while active partner had to be older (20s or early 30s). Reversing those roles was considered shocking and a deviation from the “natural order.”

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-nov-02-bk-49205-story.html

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  1. I wonder if this was a function of the rediscovery of older Greek writings. In ancient Greece this was a common practice, where older males took younger men, usually 13/14 until they were 20 or so, as pupils who they tutored in academic subjects, politics, warfare, and sex. The younger one was the “bottom.” This was considered a normal practice and part of an upper-class male’s educational process. The Renaissance was about “recovering” or “renewing” all things Greek, and using those practices to improve their society. Maybe they borrowed the idea of that practice.

    ETA: spelling

  4. It’s early and my edibles from last night haven’t worn off completely- just want to make sure I’m understanding.. they had acceptable age brackets for top/bottom?

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