Diocles (mythology)

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In Greek mythology, Diocles, or Díoklês, was one of the first priests of Demeter and one of the first to learn the secrets of the Eleusinian Mysteries. He is said to have died in battle while defending his male lover (cfr. sacred band of Thebes).

Theocritus describes him as a "lover of young boys" and relates that at his tomb in Megara a kissing contest is held each year in early spring: adolescent youths gather and compete by kissing a male judge. The one with the best kiss returns home "laden with garlands of flowers." (Idyll 12).

[edit] Attribution

• The original version of this article incorporated text from the Wikipedia article Diocles.