| Pronunciation | ə-ˈki-lē- |
|---|---|
| Etymology | Achilles + -ic |
| Abbreviations | MLM |
| Subcategories | |
| Flag | |
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| Flag name | Achillean pride flag |
Achillean is an umbrella term for men who are attracted to other men, regardless of sexual or romantic orientation. This term includes men who are gay, m-spec, ace-spec, aro-spec, non-binary, and queer. It is the counterpart to sapphic. A synonym is Vincian, referring to the idea that Leonardo da Vinci was attracted to men.
Etymology
The term derives from Achilles, the greatest warrior among the Greeks at Troy and slayer of Hector from Homer's Iliad. The definition comes from the relationship between Achilles and his friend Patroclus. Some have interpreted this relationship as a same-sex relationship.
The term Vincian was coined by Tumblr user bivirgil on June 22, 2018. He created the original flag in the same post.
Use
The term achillean is used to refer to any man who is attracted towards other men, such as homosexual, homoromantic, multisexual, and multiromantic men.
Flag
The achillean pride flag was created in 2016 by a tumblr user. The light blue represents men and the green carnation is a reference to Oscar Wilde, who popularized using a green carnation to hint at homosexuality.
References
- ^ Theil, Michele (2024-10-23). "The fascinating meaning behind the MLM term 'Achillean'". PinkNews. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
- ^ "bivirgil's post". Internet Archive. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- "Definition of ACHILLES". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
- Barron, Victoria (2023-02-21). Perfectly Queer: An Illustrated Introduction. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-83997-409-0.
- Burton, Tara Isabella (2023-06-27). "How Oscar Wilde Created a Queer, Mysterious Symbol in Green Carnations". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2024-11-14.
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