Although there is no direct evidence in the text of the Iliad that Achilles and Patroclus were lovers, this theory was expressed by some later authors.
ɔːlðˈoʊ ðɛɹ ɪz nˈoʊ dᵻɹˈɛkt ˈɛvɪdəns ɪnðə tˈɛkst ʌvðɪ ˈɪlɪˌæd ðæt ɐkˈɪliːz ænd pˈætɹɑːkləs wɜː lˈʌvɚz, ðɪs θˈiəɹi wʌz ɛkspɹˈɛst baɪ sˌʌm lˈeɪɾɚɹ ˈɔːθɚz.