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SOME

HISTORICAL

INCIDENTS

By J. P. STARR

At the time when the Romans conquered Greece, about 200 B.C., there lived in Chaeronea, in Boeotia, northwest of Athens, an orphan, Damon Peripoltas, in beauty surpassing all of his age. A Roman army captain became passionately fond of the youth. Damon agreed to brook the accomplishment in him of the captain's desires on condition that the Greeks, Damon's people, be given freedom. The Roman captain agreed but was later unable or unwilling to live up to his bargain. Damon let himself be enjoyed; but at length he and sixteen of his companions daubed their faces at night with soot, set upon the Roman captain and killed him.

The city council, subservient to the Romans, assembled and pronounced sentence of death against Damon, but he fled before they could catch him. In the country districts Damon found time and opportunity to beget offspring. One evening as the magistrates sat at supper together Damon and his confederates broke into the hall and killed them. The Greek citizens made new decrees and let Damon return to his home, where he became head of the gymnasium. His posterity were still living in the environs at last report.

Alexander of Macedon. who lived between 356 and 323 B.C., loved women as well as boys and both in

moderation. He was forever trying to reduce the number of women and other non-soldiers in his camp. and for that reason he favored sexual relations between men when he was on campaign. When Alexander made war upon Darius, king of Persia, and captured the Persian's wife, mother and daughters, as well as many other women, Alexander made a great parade of forbearance: presumably he was expected to rape them all. He even said. jesting, that Persian women were terrible eyesores.

Alexander came into Gedrosia, in Persia's arid southeastern wasteland. refreshed and feasted his army and went to see his favorite, Bagoas, contend for a prize in dancing. Having won the victory, Bagoas crossed the theater. still all but naked. and sat beside Alexander. The Macedonian soldiery present urged Alexander to put his arms around Bagoas and kiss him, which he did in the sight of the congregated soldiers.

On another day, after Alexander had undressed himself to be anointed and was playing at ball, just as they were going to bring his clothes again. the men who played with him brought him a young man and induced the stranger to undress before the king to show his musculature and graceful proportions. Upon the assembled companion's urgings, Alexander took the youth to a couch, to the onlookers' delight.