The Beast with Two Backs
Erik Wade
Today, the comparison of male homosexuality to bestiality is unfortunately too well-known from homophobic polemics. Yet this has a history in Anglophone world, and it emerged early European Middle Ages seemingly not order dehumanize men who had sex with but make appear serious by comparing male-male sexual acts. The eighth-century Paenitentiale Theodori—which collects judgments Byzantine-born Archbishop Theodore—is earliest extant English text connect acts bestiality. This does occur previous penitentials, but, after its appearance Paenitentiale, traveled throughout Western Europe. No scholarship date examines global origins such comparison. paper argues that later medieval views as perverse offense bestiality’s same-sex (rather than vice-versa). Prior Theodori, theologians described minor sin akin masturbation. Theodore borrowed Latin mistranslation 314 Greek Council Ancyra Byzantine theologian St. Basil Great. Since penitentials accorded some most penances, these elevated for first time Europe status unnatural sin. Through connection effeminizing acts, gained reputation serious, boundary-violating own right.
Journal of medieval worlds