There are also terms that are closely related to MLM. In addition to these universally agreed-upon synonyms for MLM, there are terms which some argue to be similar or the same, with others disagreeing. The best-known alternative is Men Loving Men, often abbreviated to MLM, but other words include apollonian, chaeronean, or wildean. There are plenty of alternatives for achillean. The word merely means that there is a personal attraction to other men. It should also be noted that there is no exclusionary element to achillean: someone who identifies as MLM can also be attracted to women, non-gender-conforming people, or other people of any gender. MLM is inclusive, which means that who qualifies as 'men' and as 'other men' is free to the open interpretation of anyone wishing to fall under it, meaning it includes trans men, non-binary men, and pansexual men.
This would also fit the time period, as homoerotic relationships were commonplace in Ancient Greece and, to a lesser extent, in the Roman empire.
It is often theorized that Achilles and Patroklos were lovers, a theory that is nowadays widely accepted. In the Illiad, Achilles has a close friend, Patroklos, whom he loves very much and whose death - in the war on Troy to rescue the Spartan queen Helena - hurts him beyond anything else. It refers to the Greek hero, king, and demigod Achilles, who is the main character of Homer's epic The Illiad. The term achillean finds its origins in Ancient Greek history.
