All-time classics

When the Greek Love-themed Mardi Gras Marching Group struts up Oxford Street beside a Trojan horse in this year’s parade, it will provide the most noticeable reference to ancient history all season. But it won’t be the first.

A week before the Marching Group’s star turn, a group of Sydney academics will hold their own tribute to antiquity. Chances are it will be every bit as camp as the Oxford Street extravaganza.

Classical Fantasies, held at Sydney University’s Nicholson Museum this Sunday, is an attempt to work out why ancient Greece remains an all-time gay and lesbian favourite more than two millennia on.

The idea behind it was to try to answer the question: why is it that gay men and women are so obsessed with the Mediterranean and especially the ancient Mediterranean? conference organiser Alastair Blanshard explains.

Why is it that wherever you are in the world, the easiest place to find a lesbian bookstore is just to look up Sappho in the phone directory?

Why is Spartacus the name of a gay travel guide? Why do men spend ages trying to look like Greek statues? That was the thinking behind it.

Blanshard, who specialises in Greek history at Sydney University, will join five other experts in the Nicholson Museum, home to the largest collection of classical antiquities in the southern hemisphere.

The Nicholson Museum will be surrounded by Greek torsos and vases that depict homoerotic couples. It seemed like a good place to do it, Blanshard says.

Gay and lesbian students in togas will add to the atmosphere, as champagne and afternoon tea are served.

They’ll be there and we’ve got them doing some readings and dressing up, Blanshard says.

We’re going to camp up the statues with feather boas and things like that, to give a bit of a Rocky Horror flavour to it.

Among other speakers, Dr Gail Hawkes from the University of New England will question whether the ancient Mediterranean will continue to influence contemporary sexuality.

Other academics such as Sydney University history professor Robert Aldrich will tackle everything from Sappho to Hercules. The latter is a favourite of Blanshard, who has written a book about the ancient hero.

What’s interesting about Hercules to me is that he’s always represented as so straight but he’s famous in antiquity for having a male lover, Blanshard says.

And there’s always been a gay interest in the Hercules films. I’ll be talking about Hercules and the creation of body building culture as well.

Classical Fantasies will also feature music, poetry and a discussion session open to the public.

It’s designed to be for the general public, so it’s not going to be overly academic, Blanshard says.

He believes Mardi Gras is the perfect time for a conference about queer ancient history.

Ancient Greek love, homosexual love, was celebrated and put at the very centre of society.

That’s why it seemed like a good synergy with Mardi Gras, where we’re talking about gay culture generating events.

Ancient Greece was the last time before Mardi Gras really that you found gay culture generating so much activity.

Classical Fantasies is on Sunday 25 February, 2pm-5pm, at the Nicholson Museum, main quadrangle, Sydney University. Tickets cost $25 or $20 for New Mardi Gras members. Book on 9351 2812.