THE 10 TYPES OF LOVE ACCORDING TO THE GREEKS, WHAT IS YOURS? - PHILOSOPHY - 2025

According to the ancient Greeks, it is possible to identify eight types of love. These classes allow to cover a wide spectrum that includes filial, sexual and romantic, spiritual love, obsession and commitment. The concept of love was the subject of study for the philosophers of the Ancient Age from the beginning of civilization.

The Greek playwright Aristophanes defined love as the greatest feeling that any human being could experience. On the other hand, Plato's perspective differed from Aristophanes' conclusions; Plato said that when he felt love, the human being entered a kind of vicious circle in which he took it, discarded it and returned to it.

Despite the different points of view, the Greek language made it possible to express the different stages and affective relationships. That is why it is worth highlighting the importance of knowing the contexts for the understanding of these terms.

Social and historical context

The concept of love had different interpretations in Ancient Greece, especially because of the relationships that could be manifested between man and woman.

For example, marriage was only a commercial alliance that sought to preserve the purity of the race, in order to avoid possible mixing with other individuals living within or outside the nation.

On the other hand, the man was the custodian of the woman's chastity, which was protected by the father, brother or husband until the marriage took place. Meanwhile, it was isolated and limited.

The woman was an uneducated figure, displaced from social activities and without recognition as a Greek citizen. Only men could be.

This allowed some important aspects of love and attraction to be considered. The most important ones are highlighted below:

- Beautiful love was one that occurred between two men.

- Men look for other men because only among them is good company.

- The friendship that developed in men was considered the type of honest relationship and the truest love.

- If the relationship between men was pure, it meant that the physical attraction felt for women was flawed.

- To resist the temptation to become physically involved with a woman, abstinence was promoted.

- Plato insisted that beauty, love and the soul lead to truth, and that this was only achieved through relationships with others.

- The attraction to women was frowned upon.

- In Greek mythology there are stories of heroes that promoted idyllic relationships between men.

- Homosexual relationships of the romantic or sexual type were common: from the camaraderie developed between the military to the teacher-student relationship.

Greek society was in charge of classifying women according to their functions and their sexual performance. Married women would take care of the home and raising children, concubines were companions of citizens, and courtesans provided carnal pleasure. In the end, they all had a passive and submissive role.

Types of love according to the ancient Greeks

The ancient Greeks used a wide variety of terms to define the different types of love:

Eros

In Greek mythology, Eros was the god of love and sex. Eros is the representation of the erotic force, the impulse of creativity, desire and fertility.

It is an impulsive, superficial, carnal and passionate type of love. So much so that the Greeks thought it was dangerous because it could lead to loss of control, so it was convenient not to give it too much importance due to its volatility.

Philia

It refers to friendship and camaraderie. The Greeks considered this type of love as one of the most sublime expressions that existed, since it did not involve superficiality or the intensity of eros.

Some books include not only friendly relationships, but also those between two young lovers, political contacts, fellow travelers, soldiers, members of the same religious society and the relationship generated as a result of cooperation between citizens who work for a common good..

There are several types of philia:

- That based on mutual advantages.

- The one based on pleasant love.

- The one based on mutual admiration.

Storge

Translated as family love, it takes into account the natural relationship that develops between parents and children, and vice versa. Some come to find similarities with the philia, with the difference that there is no physical attraction.

Although the term storge is primarily linked to familiarity, it also includes affection for pets and friendship generated from childhood.

Ludus

Although it has certain characteristics similar to eros, the Greeks deepened the concept a bit to bring it to the attraction that occurs between two young lovers.

It also has to do with the initial stage of a relationship, when the two people play and flirt with each other.

Mania

It has to do with the obsession and madness of love product of an imbalance between eros and philia. Mania fuels behaviors of codependency, extreme jealousy, and violence.

It is also manifested by the low self-esteem of the person who experiences it. There is an urgency for the attention and approval of others.

Pragma

It is the love that has matured, that lasts through time and that is common in friendships or couples who have been together for several years.

Although it is an ideal type of love, it is one of the most complicated that exists because it requires commitment from both parties. It involves patience, tolerance, and understanding.

Philautia

The Greeks understood that in order to give and show affection towards other people it was important to care for and love yourself.

This is not related to narcissism, a negative form of philautia, since it is focused on vanity and self-obsession.

Philautia is characterized by the following:

- Feel good about what you do.

- Self-pity.

- Self-understanding.

Agape

The Greek term refers to a type of unconditional and reflective love, whose main objective is to provide well-being to the loved one.

Some Greek philosophers extended the meaning to designate love for humanity and truth.

Unlike other types of love, agape detaches itself from sexual and romantic desire to become altruistic, compassionate, and empathetic.

It is also a way of defining the vocation towards a particular activity and it is connected with spirituality.

Other kinds of love

Although these eight types of love are the best known, it is also worth including a couple more types:

- Xenia

In Ancient Greece hospitality is a common and respected practice. The word xenia refers to the relationship that was established between the host and the guest.

- Phileo

It has to do with the way we feel about others, from the point of view of platonic love. Phileo produces a warm feeling that fuels the desire to be friends with a person.

Love in Greek mythology

Sexual relationships and love were important components in Greek society and this became evident in Greek mythology. For example, Aphrodite, goddess of love, sex, and lust, was one of the most revered major deities in the ancient world.

Her figure became so important that it even came to represent multiple meanings: from beauty, fertility, home protection and ideal love, to passion, voluptuousness and vice.

In the same universe of gods, the god of Olympus, Zeus, stands out. Through the stories it is known that Zeus displayed his gifts of seduction and joined both goddesses and mortals. Therefore, the offspring of Zeus became important, being the father of heroes and representative characters.

Greek mythology became the platform to expose the modes, customs and styles of romantic and sexual relationships. There are even stories that are still considered of great importance today. Some of the most important are the following:

- Orpheus and Eurydice.

- Odysseus and Penelope.

- Perseus and Andromeda.

- Paris and Helena.

- Adonis and Aphrodite.

- Eros and Psyche.

The rapture

Some general characteristics of the stories in mythology is that they combine passion, affection, obsession, friendship and a very common element in Greek culture: the rapture.

The figure of the abduction served to explain the union of a couple, making clear the active and dominant role of the man compared to the passivity of the woman.

This exemplification also served as an indication to demonstrate, once again, the influence of man as an effigy of power, social and political control.

The rapture was not only represented in the sexual act, but it was also accompanied by persecution, another common phenomenon in Ancient Greece.

In fact, there are records that in Sparta, before formalizing the marriage, the groom had to look for the woman at her parents' house, pretend that he was kidnapping her, and then formalize the union between them.

References

1. Agape. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
2. Begogni, Maria. (2010). Love and sex in Ancient Greece. In Athena Group. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In Grupo Atenea de grupoatenealaplata.blogspot.pe.
3. Eros. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
4. Greek words of love. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In Wikipedia at en.wikipedia.org.
5. Philia. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
6. Reyes, Emilio. (2015). Philosophers and their concept of love. In Collective Culture. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In Collective Culture of culturacolectiva.com.
7. Shilo, Urban. (2017). Learn the 8 Types of Love (According to the Ancient Greeks). In Organic Authority. Retrieved on: February 18, 2018. In Organic Authority of organicauthority.com.
8. Sol, Mateo. (sf). 8 Different Types of Love According to the Ancient Greeks. In Lonerwolf. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In Loneswolf at lonerwolf.com.
9. Storge. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
10. The Eight Kinds of Love. (sf). In The Minds Journal. Retrieved: February 18, 2018. In The Minds Journal of themindsjournal.com.