==Historical data==
The two most principal areas of historical inquiry which have been studied by historians in relation to ancient occurrences of homosexuality are [[Greek Homosexuality|Greek homosexuality]] and [[Roman Homosexuality|Roman homosexuality]]. See (see also [[Romans 1]]) but to which other societies, ancient to modern, are included.
It should be noted here that most of the research for the information referenced here comes through pro homosexual writers, who sometimes interpret obscure or indefinite data as positively denoting homosexuality, nonetheless abundant or as Boswell,<ref>Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe</ref> tend to contrive a history usable to them,<ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9411/articles/darling.html Gay Marriage: Reimagining Church History Robin Darling Young]</ref> (which they are not alone in doing). However, much clear data exists is provided which testifies to widespread acceptance of homoeroticism (mostly pederastic) , concomitant with idolatry, including Israel at times when they forsook worship of "the living and true God" (1Thes. 1:9) of the Bible, who uniquely forbade such. A In regard to this, a primary source on the subject of history and homosexuality, pro homosexual author Dr. David E. Greenberg, noted that, other than the Jews, "none of the archaic civilizations prohibited homosexuality per se",<ref>Greenberg, "The Construction of Homosexuality" p. 124</ref> (though he himself imposed homosexuality into the story of [[David and Jonathan]]).
===Homosexuality in Greece===
The largest amount of material pertinent to the history of homosexuality is from Greece, from notable philosophers and writers such as Plato, Xenophon, Plutarch, and pseudo-Lucian, to plays by Aristophanes, to Greek artwork and vases. James B. De Young notes that homosexuality seems to have existed more widely among the ancient Greeks more than among any other ancient culture. The main form of this was pederasty, a custom that seems to have been practiced mostly among the upper classes, in which an older man (the ''erastest'') would make a young free boy (the ''eromenos'') his sex partner, and become his mentor. This was regulated by the State as an institution. However, this practice was usually a supplement to marriage,<ref>Dover, K.J., Greek Homosexuality (Harvard University Press, 1989, as summarized in "Homosexuality," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, August 2002)</ref> and thus is seen as being done by bisexuals. The practice of pederasty is mentioned in Homer's ''Illiad'', and is evidenced to have existed at least 4500 years ago in ancient Egypt.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZXAVf8m_HKgC&pg=PA322&lpg=PA322&dq=Plato%27s+Laws+636c&source=bl&ots=ZjVFYZcdwc&sig=qh8nqrP0-_GCl1p49MgogdYs7E8&hl=en&ei=0sUeSqOxIqbWlQfpnPjPBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=19 Homosexuality, By James B. DeYoung p. 322]</ref>
In the Amores (''the loves'') of Lucian, an Assyrian rhetorician (125- to approx. 180), which many think was written by another in a later period, and thus it is called, ''pseudo-Lucian'', extensive discourses are given on the subject of homosexual affections and relations. In Amores 10, Lycinus describes the Athenian character Callicratidas as one who ''was well provided with handsome slave-boys and all of his servants were. pretty well beardless. They remained with him till the down first appeared on their faces, but, once any growth cast a shadow on their cheeks, they would be sent away to be stewards and overseers of his properties at Athens.''<ref>PSEUDO-LUCIAN, AFFAIRS OF THE HEART, 10</ref> This man is set in contrast to the character Charicles who loves females, and who supports the cause of normal heterosexual passion, first most because of their ability to procreate.
However, homosexual "orientation" is also indicated on the part of Callicratidas, at least toward boys, as in Amores 20 he is said to be reluctant to go to the temple of Aphrodite because he was going to see something female, while Charicles describes those who engage in homosexual sex as having "bought a little pleasure at the cost of great disgrace.'' Sternly reproving homosexuals he also states, ''With what blind insensibility have you engulfed your souls that you have missed the mark in both directions, avoiding what you ought to pursue, and pursuing what you ought to avoid?'' (22)
A western visitor to the port city of Tianjin estimated that there were approximately eight hundred boys in its thirty-five brothels, trained for pederastic prostitution.<ref>Hinsch, p. 141</ref>
However, homoeroticism apparently was not a religious part of Chinese folk religion, as "the Chinese were shocked and indignant at the homoerotic Tibetan rites practiced at the court of <ref>Shun-Ti Heissig, the last Mongul emperor in the fourteenth century."<ref>1996; pp. 52-54, referenced by Greenberg, p. 161</ref>
===Homosexuality in ancient Mesopotamia===