The Sodomitic Lions of Granada
Glenn W. Olsen
Even before the appearance in 1980 of John Boswell's Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality, scholars had shown some interest presence "homoeroticism" medieval Spain.1 Their attention centered on erotic themes found Jewish Muslim poetry associated with tenth-century urban culture Andalusia, south Spain. According to many scholars, during Andalusia's "golden age" adherents three monotheist religions—Islam, Judaism, Christianity—lived tolerantly together convivencia.2 Moreover, according Boswell, Andalusia was a particularly good example what common throughout early Europe lost only High Middle Ages—a society that tolerated homosexuality gay people. Though provides rich lode for those wishing study same-sex phenomena Spain, other kinds evidence have also survived—sculptural as well textual. Sculpture embodying sexual motifs more abundant Christian Romanesque north eleventh twelfth centuries than at any period Islamic presumably because portraying human body proscribed by Islam. Still, 1982 Norman Roth brilliantly linked sculpture one ablutional basins discovered archaeologists near Córdoba [End Page 1] earlier century treatment love boys poetry.3 part argument present is made important mistakes, his goal noteworthy: contextual interpretation basin first glance has nothing about it. He established historical context using contemporary "read" basin's extract its meaning. Such reading seems me reasonable way approach much sculpture. On matters sexual, artistic record both Spain especially difficult interpret: no surviving written documents explain straightforwardly In an I attempted show church greatest profusion sculptural can achieve.4 Here wish do something similar quartet basins, including studied Roth, originated around 1000 vicinity but are now scattered northern Africa My not simply place specific works art within plausible illustrate degree which be recovered giving all remain—political, geographical, literary, religious, artistic. The end view recovery life, particular, interlace attitudes, ideas, practices. Of necessity, and, especially, Arabic prominent discussion follows. But materials fill out picture, showing how relative outsiders viewed "goings-on" caliphal court Córdoba. life saint, Pelagius, recently it tells us "sodomy" this time, reveals even when aligned nonliterary record. Today Museo Arqueológico de stands rectangular (figure 1) 1926 ruins Alamiría (Almería), palace or country house Almanzor (939-1002) Sierra Córdoba, just west Medina al-Zahra.5 extensive city begun 936 Caliph Abd al-Rahman III (912-67) took 2] Click larger Figure 1 Late-tenth-century Alamiría,
Journal of the History of Sexuality