>>15392246>Much has been written of boy-love in the court of Ali Pasha, Turkish governor of Ioannina in Greece, whose agents combed the dominion for the most beautiful children - killing the parents who refused to allow their sons to serve the governor. West European visitors, including Lord Byron have described Ali's court, where beautiful boys in long curly hair strutted about in crimson petticoats or paraded naked. Ali regularly bled his boys to keep them "docile, pale and beautiful" - for which read subdued and weakened. These "smooth-limbed young ganymedes" entertained visitors with lewd songs and dances. It is said that Ali could not kiss nor fondle without hurting, and that he and his son, in cruel sport, tried out the various horrors described by the Marquis de Sade. Boys who displeased Ali were sewn in sacks and tossed into the lake, or put into a leopard's cage for the amusement of the court. Ali took pleasure in torturing his boys and in giving them gifts. In the end his downfall came from the Sultan's jealousy. Gossip has it that the Sultan was enraged at Ali's imitating an imperial prerogative by insisting that when a boy came to his bed, he must crawl up from the bottom on his bellyHenry Blount (17th c)
Although they were after the Turkish manner muffled that nothing but the eye could appear: beside these wives, each Basha hath as many, or likely more Catamites, which are their serious loves; for their Wives are used (as the Turks themselves told me) but to dress their meat, to Laundrese, and for reputation; The Boys likely of twelve, or fourteen years old, some of them not above nine, or ten, are usually clad in Velvet, or Scarlet, with guilt Scymitars, and bravely mounted, with sumptuous furniture; to each of them a Soldier appointed, who walks by his bridle, for his safety: when they are all in order, there is excellent Sherbets given to any who will drink: then the Basha takes Horse, before whom ride a dozen
