Achillean, also known as men-loving men (MLM), apollian, chaeronean, or wildean refers to a man or man-aligned person who is attracted to other men or man-aligned people. One may or may not be attracted to other genders as well. This attraction does not need to be exclusive, as the label is used in a way to unify under an umbrella all men who love other men, including gay (vincian or uranian) men, bisexual men, pansexual men, queer men, and other m-spec men, promoting solidarity among all of these identities.
In addition to being used as an individual identity, the term can also be used as a modifier combined with other identities to specify that one prioritizes their attraction to and relationships with other men, as an identity for people who know they are attracted to men but may be uncertain if they are attracted to other genders, and as a descriptor for a relationship between two men.
The feminine counterpart to achillean is sapphic. The non-binary counterparts are diamoric and enbian.
Other Terms
There are many other terms used to refer to non-exclusive attraction to men. Some other terms include:
- Apollian or Apollonian, in honor of Apollo.[1]
- Wildean, in honor of Oscar Wilde.[2]
- Chaeronean, based on the Order of Chaeronea was started in 1897 by early gay rights activist George Cecil Ives.[3][4]
- Hyacean or Hyacique, based on on Hyacinth/Hyacinthus from Greek mythology.[5][6]
- Ganymedic, in honor of Ganymede.[7]
- Patroclean, in honor of Patroclus.[7]
- Sivanic, in honor of Troye Sivan.[7]
- Tomic, in honor of Tom of Finland.[7]
- Vincic, in honor of Leonardo da Vinci.[7]
- Vincian, also based on Leonardo da Vinci is occasionally used as another version of achillean, but is also used to refer to gay men (exclusive attraction).
History
The word achillean has historically been used to describe things relating to the mythological figure Achilles. The first instance of achillean being used in the context of men attracted to men is in 1959 in A.C. Hamilton's scholarly article titled "Spenser's Treatment of Myth":
Guyon subdues these Achillean affections through his own power; but they break out again as Cymochles lapses into lust and Pyrochles burns in the idle lake.[8]
This usage predates the reclamation of the word "gay," previously only a derogatory term for homosexual men, as a synonym for self-identified and proud homosexual by the Gay Liberation Front by ten years.[9]
The resurgence of achillean is likely due to the the internet, specifically a post by Tumblr user asculan on June 13, 2016.[7]
Flag
The original achillean flag was created by either by Tumblr user pridenpositivity in 2017.[10] The flag was redesigned by DeviantArt user Pride-Flags on October 5, 2016,[11], which is widely accepted as the current achillean flag.
Both flags have two blue stripes on the top and bottom representing men. In the center is a green carnation. In ancient Rome and 19th century England, green indicated gay affiliations. Victorian men would often pin a green carnation on their lapel, as popularized by author Oscar Wilde. In general, the achillean flag represents joy.
A commonly used alternate flag, with a darker blue stripe and a green stripe with the same symbolism, was created by Reddit user Pacack on September 6, 2019.[12] In general, the achillean flag has been redesigned or tweaked many times since its creation.[13]
Etymology
The word achillean comes from the name of the hero in the Iliad, Achilles, who was romantically involved with another man, Patroclus.
References
- ↑ Apollian origin
- ↑ Wildean origin
- ↑ Order of Chaeronea, wikipedia
- ↑ Chaeronean origin
- ↑ Hyacean origin
- ↑ Hyacean origin
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Archived Tumblr post on new MLM terms.
- ↑ Wiktionary entry for achillean (quotation under definition four of achillean (adjective)).
- ↑ Wikipedia entry on the year 1969 in gay liberation history.
- ↑ Archived Tumblr post announcing the achillean flag.
- ↑ DeviantArt post with the current achillean flag.
- ↑ Reddit post on an alternate achillean flag.
- ↑ "MLM Flags!" Carrd entry on achillean flag variations.