PAGE 2. (PANEL) 1. (FROMOVER) OF THE MEN SHOWN HERE TO LOOK EFFEMINATE. THE LAUGHING MEN ABSORBED IN THEIR JOKE IN THE NEAR B/G CAN MAYBE BE A LITTLE PORTLY AND RED-CHEEKED, THE STIGMATA OF WEALTH, BUT THE GUY IN THE F/G STARING MEANINGFULLY AT THE SERVING BOY LOOKS AS IF HE WRESTLES A COUPLE OF CRETAN BULLS BEFORE BREAKFAST. THERE ARE NONE OF THE SHORTHAND SIGNS THAT WE HAVE COME TO ASSOCIATE WITH GAYNESS VISIBLE AT ALL, SINCE BACK THEN THERE WAS SIMPLY NO CONCEPT OF HOMOSEXUALITY AS AN IDENTITY OR MODE OF BEHAVIOUR: THERE WERE JUST INDIVIDUAL ACTS. HERE, THE ADONIC LIKE YOUNG PRINCE IN THE F/G STARES AT THE SERVING BOY AS THE MEDITERRANEAN SUN BEATS DOWN BLINDINGLY UPON THE WHITE MARBLE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS. CAP. : We loved while great mediterranean cultures flourished, their homoerotic urges troubling them not at all. CAP. : Regarding man-boy love as civilized, the Greeks and Romans made it thus a badge of class and rank within their careful edifice of power. (PANEL) 2 NOW WE SHOW THE SPARTAN ARMY AT WAR. AT CENTRE PANEL A SPARTAN FOOTSOLDIER STANDS FACING US AS IF WE WERE SOME ENEMY RUSHING TOWARDS HIM ACROSS THE MISTY, DUSTY BATTLEFIELD. HE HAS HIS SWORD OR SPEAR RAISED ANGRILY TO FEND US OFF OR KILL US IF HE CAN AND HIS FACE IS A MASK OF IMPLACABLE PROTECTIVE FURY, LIKE THE FACE OF A SHE CAT WHOSE YOUNG ARE THREATENED. IN HIS FREE HAND, CLUTCHED TO HIS BREAST HE SUPPORTS A YOUNGER, WOUNDED COMRADE WHO PERHAPS HAS AN ARROW IN HIS SIDE OR JUST A SPEAR WOUND. THE YOUNGER MAN HANGS LIMPLY, HELD PROTECTIVELY AGAINST THE ARMOURED CHEST OF HIS COMRADE/LOVER WHO STANDS READY TO DEFEND THE INJURED MAN, WITH ANGRY TEARS RUNNING DOWN HIS WAR-SCORCHED CHEEKS EVEN AS THE MUSCLES RIPPLE LETHALLY IN HIS SWORD ARM. THESE SPARTANS WERE TERRIFYING SONS OF BITCHES WHO WOULD FIGHT TO THE DEATH WITH A FEROCITY THAT LESS EMOTIONALLY MOTIVATED FOES COULDN'T MATCH, SO TRY TO GET OVER THE SAMURAI SAVAGERY OF THE EMOTION IF YOU CAN. BEHIND AND BEYOND THE TWO F/G FIGURES WE SEE OTHER COMBATTANTS STUMBLING AROUND WOUNDED OR GRAPPLING, HAZY GRAY FIGURES SHROUDED BY THE MIST OR THE DUST OF BATTLE. STAINED WITH HIS DYING LOVERS BLOOD THE SPARTAN SOLDIER STARES AT US WITH WHITE HOT EYES, PREPARED TO FIGHT AND DIE. CAP. : The Spartan army ventured further: Male love was enforced, producing soldiers who'd defend their frontline lovers to the death. CAP. : Demanding tougher breeds, they exposed infants to the elements, paticularly girls. Perhaps because of this, by the time Rome invaded there were only sixteen Spartans left.