The epitome of love in these ancient societies was pedastry - a sexual relationship between an older man and a young boy; today it is a very serious felony. To the Greeks this was something positive and beautiful. All the Greek greats - Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Plato, for instance - had young boy lovers. And many waxed ecstatic about it, such as the Greek poet Propertius: "May my enemies fall in love with women and my friends with boys."

further:

http://abacus.bates.edu/~mimber/athlit02/lecture6.1.htm

First, our evidence for homosexual relationships playing a critical role within Athenian culture is strongest for the aristocracy (which not coincidently, most strongly segregated the sexes). Second, while Athenians (or at least aristocratic Athenians) encouraged young men to welcome the attention of older men, these relationships were not necessarily sexually active. The most important function of these relationships was to educate young men into the demands of their identities as aristocratic members of a democratic community. More specifically, some have argued that these relationships taught young aristocrats to negotiate difficult issues of power.

So, yes, I do believe that culture has much to do with our sense of morality. The sexual contact was not considered harmful to the children. For instance, the fact that the enitire society was open about the adult-child sexual contact, meant there was no stigma attached to the child and no emotional estrangement from the parents or friends. Also, the author noted that the contact didn't seem to be harmful physically.

I, having been raised in this society, find most of that society's normal behavior to be repulsive. But the fact that I still speak to and even hug the adult male members of my family would cause me to be put to death in their society.

It is all relative.

Answering that question requires examining the amount of psychological harm that inflicts human beings at various stages of development following sexual intercourse with an adult. During early childhood, the amount of trauma seems to be quite severe, suggesting a just basis for criminalization by society. Since there is no universal point at which the risk of trauma disappears, the decision to criminalize sex with minors at a certain age has a pragmatic, rather than a morally absolute basis. Of course you already know this, so I will simply concur that your point is taken about the moral subjectivity of the term �perverse.�

http://www.umkc.edu/sites/hsw/issues/pedophil.html

it classifies 5 types of pedophile and female pedophiles have a type all to themselves:

Fixated (or exclusive type) pedophilia: The fixated pedophiles consider themselves to be trapped in childhood. They usually have minimum relations with adult peers, and relate better with children. They are identified mainly as men and their primary interest is in boys, with whom they develop boy to boy relationships. They typically plan their activities to promote access to young boys through church, neighborhood, or sporting activities.

Regressed (or nonexclusive type) pedophilia: On the other hand, the regressed pedophile is not ordinarily attracted to children. Those with regressed pedophilia are typically heterosexual married males and most likely to sexually molest 8 or 9 year old female children. Some pedophiles complain of anxiety or tension related to employment or marital relationship as precursors to pedophilic impulses, as well as alcohol or drug usage. They view the child as an adult substitute, and relate to the child in an adult to adult manner. The first sexual encounter is usually sudden and unplanned.

Cross-sex pedophilia: Male pedophiles who sexually molest young girls are typically diagnosed with regressed pedophilia. They commonly befriend the young girl and gradually engage in sexually activities, enticing, rather than forcing, the child. The activities frequently include fondling the child, encouraging the child to fondle the male, and possibly oral stimulation, but rarely sexual intercourse.

Same-sex pedophilia: While most pedophiles who engage in or fantasize about same-sex children do not participate in heterosexual adult sexual relations, they also deny being homosexual. Instead, the pedophiles are more sexually aroused by male and female children than by either gender of adults. The average age of molestation among boys is between 10 and 12. Sexual activities typically involve fondling and adult masturbation and/ or oral stimulation of the boy, and anal sex with the adult male taking the active role.