Love In Ancient Times

Prior to the development of the concepts of the "bisexual" and the "heterosexual woman" as distinct types of people in the late 19th century, women were defined primarily by their familial relationships with husbands and children. Marriage served primarily economic and procreative functions rather than emotional functions, and women were expected to form their closest emotional bonds with other women. Even if and when these bonds became sexual, women were not seen as "bisexual" because of their simultaneous marriages to men, but as women because of their familial relationships with their husbands and children.

Even ancient Indian sculptures depict bisexuality to a great extent. Private women's parties were supposed to be notorious for sexual activities. Amongst men it was widely prevalent. Ancient Spartans even encouraged same-sex relationships among their troops so long as the men also had wives and produced children, since they thought that physical relationships between older and younger soldiers would solidify combat loyalty. In ancient Greece, men often engaged in same-sex relationships, yet most also had wives. Perhaps the most famous example is Alexander the Great who had many wives, but also a sexual relationship with his close friend Hephaestion.

The Kama Sutra thoroughly describes all types of sexual behavior and practices between heterosexual or first and second-gender men and women. This is by far the major portion of the text. Within these chapters, bisexuality is occasionally mentioned. Apparently, in Vedic times, bisexuality was considered to be more of a variation for men and women who were so inclined, and not as a category of the third sex. Because bisexuals engaged in the procreative act, they did not possess the 'napumsaka' nature of the third sex and other sexually neutral people. The Sanskrit word 'kami' indicates that such persons were especially fond of lovemaking and that they displayed this fondness in a variety of ways. 'Kami' includes people who are simultaneously attracted to both men and women or who engage in homosexuality for reasons other than natural attraction. Those who periodically switch back and forth between heterosexuality and homosexuality are sometimes known in Sanskrit as 'paksa-sandha'.

Bisexuality is a curious nature in that it can move back and forth, thus involving the question of choice, which is normally not an issue with heterosexuals or homosexuals. Heterosexuals often confuse the homosexual nature with bisexuality, falsely considering homosexuality to be merely a "choice" or "tendency." They are unaware that the vast majority of homosexuals, or roughly 90 per cent, have absolutely no attraction, natural or otherwise, for members of the opposite sex. Bisexuals themselves are often uncertain about their own sexuality, especially during adolescence.

In any case, bisexuals were typically accommodated within ordinary heterosexual society but would also frequent the third-gender communities where they were similarly welcomed. Topics discussed in the Kama Shastra pertaining to them include: Men who visit transvestites or masseurs working as prostitutes, men in the company of lesbians, transvestites within the king's harem, women of the harem satisfying themselves in lieu of the king's absence, and male servants who practise homosexuality in their youth but then later become inclined towards women.