What is ephebo?

Ephebo is a term that comes from the Greek language and refers to a young adolescent male who is between puberty and adulthood. In ancient Greece, this period was considered as a critical time in a young male's life, where he would undergo physical, emotional, and intellectual growth and development. Ephebo was a term used to describe a young man undergoing this process.

As part of their training, an Ephebo would undergo military training, participate in athletics, and receive an education in philosophy, music, and literature. The aim of this was to produce physically strong, emotionally stable, and intellectually capable adult men who would contribute positively to society.

Ephebo was also a part of Greek mythology, where many heroes and gods underwent their transformative journeys as adolescents. For example, Achilles was trained by Chiron, a wise and skilled centaur, during his Ephebo period.

In modern times, the term Ephebo is not widely used. However, the critical period of adolescence is still regarded as a crucial time of development, and many cultures have customs, rituals, or traditions to mark this transition.