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People with a History: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans* History Sourcebook
John Malalas:
On Isaiah of Rhodes and Alexander of Diospolis,
from World History 18:18
Book 18: #18
AD 528
In that year some of the bishops from various provinces were accused
of living immorally in matters of the flesh and of homosexual
practices. Amongst them was Isaiah, bishop of Rhodes, an ex praefectus
vigilium at Constantinople, and likewaise the bishop from
Diospolis, in Thrace named Alexander. In accordance with a sacred
ordinance they were brought to Constantinople and were examined
and condemned by Victor the city prefect, who punished them: he
tortured Isaiah severely and exiled him and he amputated Alexander's
genitals and paraded him around on a litter. The emperor [sc.
Justinian I] immediately decreed that those detected in pederasty
should have their genitals amputated. At that time many homosexuals
were arrested and dies after having their genitals amputated.
From then on there was fear amongst those afflicted with homosexual
lust.
Source.
From: John Malalas: On Isaiah of Rhodes and Alexander
of Diospolis,
from World History, 18:18, As translated in John Malalas, The Chronicle, trans. Elizabeth
Jeffreys, Michael Jeffreys and Roger Scott, et al., (Melbourne:
Australian Association for Byzantine Studies, 1986), p.253
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