Page:Lovers Legends - The Gay Greek Myths.pdf/135



This book is in your hands thanks mainly to the pioneering work of scholars who overcame many obstacles, often at significant professional risk, to bring to light the history of male love. They are too numerous to mention here, but the merit for making this material available is largely theirs.

The credit for whatever dramatic power these stories might have must go to Agi Lev, the theater director who struggled through reams of plodding prose to resurrect the living essence of each story and make it rise from the page.

Heather Elizabeth Peterson made me think I could write, the vital push that got the ball rolling. Dr. Thomas Carpenter helped resolve problems relating to Greek iconography, and was patient enough to debate unorthodox interpretations of Greek myth. Giovanni Dall'Orto pointed out key examples of Etruscan and Roman art. Jeff Grygny conceived and executed the Greek map, a true delight! Bea Ferrigno, my editor, turned a rough draft into a finished work — her experience helped make up for my lack of it. M. Ishino turned her titanic organizational skills to bibliographical details. The indefatigable Lorenzo Smerillo was an invaluable help with Greek and Latin translations. Carolyn Ross kindly put to use her knowledge of librarian lore in finding rare texts. Ken Wallace has been a stalwart; the thanks for laying out this visual feast go to him. Many museums and institutions both in Europe and in the United States put their resources at my disposal, often at no cost. A couple stand out. In the US, the staff at the The Getty were unusually kind and helpful. In Europe, the staff at the British Museum went out of their way time and again to help me with the illustrations — hospitably granting me access to their reserve collection and doing their utmost 121