• Book Review : Eunuchs & Castrati : A Cultural History by P. Scholz

Posted: **Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm**

Paperback, Markus/Wiener Publishers, 327 pages, some B&W illustrations, ©2001, 1999, ISBN # 1-55876-201-910 chapters, epilogue, notes, bibliography, & an index of names. Scholz cites just about everything ever written about castration, and this is one great read. He could very well have titled it Everything You Wanted to Know About Eunuchs, but Were Afraid to Ask.Chapter 1, Sexuality & Emasculation, discusses in a broad overview who had eunuchs of what variety and why. It is interesting to read the Author's research into the etymology of various terms, and also interesting to find out that not all eunuchs in history were actually cut. There is great discussion on the translations of various terms, and who might have actually been intact and only in a honorary title and who wasn't! It blends well into Chapter 2, In the Beginning Were the Gods, which discusses castration in a religious sense and give the reader a good lesson in everyone from Horus, Isis and Seth to the Greek gods to Cybele and down to finally - Christianity. Scholz writes up various mythical castrati (not eunuchs) and real ones as well, and compares & contrasts them nicely. He also puts effort into trying to figure out WHY people wanted to do this instead of just stating who did what and when to whom.Chapter 3, Sacred Kingship, offers a look at certain obscure rituals and castrati as they pertained to their services to the King - whoever it might have been - and why they were so valuable.Chapter 4, Eunuchs in the Hellenistic & Roman Worlds, is exactly that - an in-depth look at those eunuchs & castrati (there is a difference, you know, read the etymology) of those periods. Again, Scholz presents a wealth of interesting facts including commentary on the Greeks not beign very big on the idea of castration while the Romans - while seeming to have taken steps to limit it - almost couldn't do without it! Yes, we have mention of Tiberius' "fishes" and Roman ladies' "boys" in service!Chatper 5, The Emporer of China & His Eunuchs, has more illustrations and also some very detailed "first hand" stories of young boys' castrations to prepare them for imperial service. This chapter pretty much sums up more information on Chinese eunuchs than all of the other sources I've read, Henry T'sai's History... included. (Which by the way, is pretty dry and lacks any kind of speculation or details.) One of the accounts of a castration, in fact, is almost like an EA story!Chapter 6, Sexuality in Early Christianity, as they say in Germany, "ohne Worte". Goes without saying. You can pretty much think "Origen" and get the feel of this chapter. Sex is bad, let's cut it off. Still, it's got a lot of good history in it.Chapter 7, From the Origins of Islam to the Topkapi Seraglio, starts off with a bang - an excerpt from The Arabian Nights, in fact, twelfth night ... "During my unconsciousness, a barber was sent for who castrated me completely and cauterized the wounds with red-hot irons..." Now that's an introduction! Did you know that the Moslems actually got the idea of using eunuchs from the Byzantines? Again, lots of detail into who did what and what kind of eunuch you needed to do it! So much for the idea that eunuchs / castrati were passive and submissive and basically harmless!



<hr>

Paolo<img src="http://www.eunuch.org/bbs_banners/paolo_banner1.jpg" border="0">

Posted: **Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm**

Paolo wrote: Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm Paperback, Markus/Wiener Publishers, 327 pages, some B&W illustrations, ©2001, 1999, ISBN # 1-55876-201-910 chapters, epilogue, notes, bibliography, & an index of names. Scholz cites just about everything ever written about castration, and this is one great read. He could very well have titled it Everything You Wanted to Know About Eunuchs, but Were Afraid to Ask.Chapter 1, Sexuality & Emasculation, discusses in a broad overview who had eunuchs of what variety and why. It is interesting to read the Author's research into the etymology of various terms, and also interesting to find out that not all eunuchs in history were actually cut. There is great discussion on the translations of various terms, and who might have actually been intact and only in a honorary title and who wasn't! It blends well into Chapter 2, In the Beginning Were the Gods, which discusses castration in a religious sense and give the reader a good lesson in everyone from Horus, Isis and Seth to the Greek gods to Cybele and down to finally - Christianity. Scholz writes up various mythical castrati (not eunuchs) and real ones as well, and compares & contrasts them nicely. He also puts effort into trying to figure out WHY people wanted to do this instead of just stating who did what and when to whom.Chapter 3, Sacred Kingship, offers a look at certain obscure rituals and castrati as they pertained to their services to the King - whoever it might have been - and why they were so valuable.Chapter 4, Eunuchs in the Hellenistic & Roman Worlds, is exactly that - an in-depth look at those eunuchs & castrati (there is a difference, you know, read the etymology) of those periods. Again, Scholz presents a wealth of interesting facts including commentary on the Greeks not beign very big on the idea of castration while the Romans - while seeming to have taken steps to limit it - almost couldn't do without it! Yes, we have mention of Tiberius' "fishes" and Roman ladies' "boys" in service!Chatper 5, The Emporer of China & His Eunuchs, has more illustrations and also some very detailed "first hand" stories of young boys' castrations to prepare them for imperial service. This chapter pretty much sums up more information on Chinese eunuchs than all of the other sources I've read, Henry T'sai's History... included. (Which by the way, is pretty dry and lacks any kind of speculation or details.) One of the accounts of a castration, in fact, is almost like an EA story!Chapter 6, Sexuality in Early Christianity, as they say in Germany, "ohne Worte". Goes without saying. You can pretty much think "Origen" and get the feel of this chapter. Sex is bad, let's cut it off. Still, it's got a lot of good history in it.Chapter 7, From the Origins of Islam to the Topkapi Seraglio, starts off with a bang - an excerpt from The Arabian Nights, in fact, twelfth night ... "During my unconsciousness, a barber was sent for who castrated me completely and cauterized the wounds with red-hot irons..." Now that's an introduction! Did you know that the Moslems actually got the idea of using eunuchs from the Byzantines? Again, lots of detail into who did what and what kind of eunuch you needed to do it! So much for the idea that eunuchs / castrati were passive and submissive and basically harmless!



<hr>

Paolo<img src="http://www.eunuch.org/bbs_banners/paolo_banner1.jpg" border="0">

Posted: **Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm**

Paolo wrote: Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm Paperback, Markus/Wiener Publishers, 327 pages, some B&W illustrations, ©2001, 1999, ISBN # 1-55876-201-910 chapters, epilogue, notes, bibliography, & an index of names. Scholz cites just about everything ever written about castration, and this is one great read. He could very well have titled it Everything You Wanted to Know About Eunuchs, but Were Afraid to Ask.Chapter 1, Sexuality & Emasculation, discusses in a broad overview who had eunuchs of what variety and why. It is interesting to read the Author's research into the etymology of various terms, and also interesting to find out that not all eunuchs in history were actually cut. There is great discussion on the translations of various terms, and who might have actually been intact and only in a honorary title and who wasn't! It blends well into Chapter 2, In the Beginning Were the Gods, which discusses castration in a religious sense and give the reader a good lesson in everyone from Horus, Isis and Seth to the Greek gods to Cybele and down to finally - Christianity. Scholz writes up various mythical castrati (not eunuchs) and real ones as well, and compares & contrasts them nicely. He also puts effort into trying to figure out WHY people wanted to do this instead of just stating who did what and when to whom.Chapter 3, Sacred Kingship, offers a look at certain obscure rituals and castrati as they pertained to their services to the King - whoever it might have been - and why they were so valuable.Chapter 4, Eunuchs in the Hellenistic & Roman Worlds, is exactly that - an in-depth look at those eunuchs & castrati (there is a difference, you know, read the etymology) of those periods. Again, Scholz presents a wealth of interesting facts including commentary on the Greeks not beign very big on the idea of castration while the Romans - while seeming to have taken steps to limit it - almost couldn't do without it! Yes, we have mention of Tiberius' "fishes" and Roman ladies' "boys" in service!Chatper 5, The Emporer of China & His Eunuchs, has more illustrations and also some very detailed "first hand" stories of young boys' castrations to prepare them for imperial service. This chapter pretty much sums up more information on Chinese eunuchs than all of the other sources I've read, Henry T'sai's History... included. (Which by the way, is pretty dry and lacks any kind of speculation or details.) One of the accounts of a castration, in fact, is almost like an EA story!Chapter 6, Sexuality in Early Christianity, as they say in Germany, "ohne Worte". Goes without saying. You can pretty much think "Origen" and get the feel of this chapter. Sex is bad, let's cut it off. Still, it's got a lot of good history in it.Chapter 7, From the Origins of Islam to the Topkapi Seraglio, starts off with a bang - an excerpt from The Arabian Nights, in fact, twelfth night ... "During my unconsciousness, a barber was sent for who castrated me completely and cauterized the wounds with red-hot irons..." Now that's an introduction! Did you know that the Moslems actually got the idea of using eunuchs from the Byzantines? Again, lots of detail into who did what and what kind of eunuch you needed to do it! So much for the idea that eunuchs / castrati were passive and submissive and basically harmless!



<hr>

Paolo<img src="http://www.eunuch.org/bbs_banners/paolo_banner1.jpg" border="0">

Posted: **Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm**

Paolo wrote: Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm Paperback, Markus/Wiener Publishers, 327 pages, some B&W illustrations, ©2001, 1999, ISBN # 1-55876-201-910 chapters, epilogue, notes, bibliography, & an index of names. Scholz cites just about everything ever written about castration, and this is one great read. He could very well have titled it Everything You Wanted to Know About Eunuchs, but Were Afraid to Ask.Chapter 1, Sexuality & Emasculation, discusses in a broad overview who had eunuchs of what variety and why. It is interesting to read the Author's research into the etymology of various terms, and also interesting to find out that not all eunuchs in history were actually cut. There is great discussion on the translations of various terms, and who might have actually been intact and only in a honorary title and who wasn't! It blends well into Chapter 2, In the Beginning Were the Gods, which discusses castration in a religious sense and give the reader a good lesson in everyone from Horus, Isis and Seth to the Greek gods to Cybele and down to finally - Christianity. Scholz writes up various mythical castrati (not eunuchs) and real ones as well, and compares & contrasts them nicely. He also puts effort into trying to figure out WHY people wanted to do this instead of just stating who did what and when to whom.Chapter 3, Sacred Kingship, offers a look at certain obscure rituals and castrati as they pertained to their services to the King - whoever it might have been - and why they were so valuable.Chapter 4, Eunuchs in the Hellenistic & Roman Worlds, is exactly that - an in-depth look at those eunuchs & castrati (there is a difference, you know, read the etymology) of those periods. Again, Scholz presents a wealth of interesting facts including commentary on the Greeks not beign very big on the idea of castration while the Romans - while seeming to have taken steps to limit it - almost couldn't do without it! Yes, we have mention of Tiberius' "fishes" and Roman ladies' "boys" in service!Chatper 5, The Emporer of China & His Eunuchs, has more illustrations and also some very detailed "first hand" stories of young boys' castrations to prepare them for imperial service. This chapter pretty much sums up more information on Chinese eunuchs than all of the other sources I've read, Henry T'sai's History... included. (Which by the way, is pretty dry and lacks any kind of speculation or details.) One of the accounts of a castration, in fact, is almost like an EA story!Chapter 6, Sexuality in Early Christianity, as they say in Germany, "ohne Worte". Goes without saying. You can pretty much think "Origen" and get the feel of this chapter. Sex is bad, let's cut it off. Still, it's got a lot of good history in it.Chapter 7, From the Origins of Islam to the Topkapi Seraglio, starts off with a bang - an excerpt from The Arabian Nights, in fact, twelfth night ... "During my unconsciousness, a barber was sent for who castrated me completely and cauterized the wounds with red-hot irons..." Now that's an introduction! Did you know that the Moslems actually got the idea of using eunuchs from the Byzantines? Again, lots of detail into who did what and what kind of eunuch you needed to do it! So much for the idea that eunuchs / castrati were passive and submissive and basically harmless!



<hr>

Paolo<img src="http://www.eunuch.org/bbs_banners/paolo_banner1.jpg" border="0">

Posted: **Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm**

Paolo wrote: Mon Nov 26, 2001 9:20 pm Paperback, Markus/Wiener Publishers, 327 pages, some B&W illustrations, ©2001, 1999, ISBN # 1-55876-201-910 chapters, epilogue, notes, bibliography, & an index of names. Scholz cites just about everything ever written about castration, and this is one great read. He could very well have titled it Everything You Wanted to Know About Eunuchs, but Were Afraid to Ask.Chapter 1, Sexuality & Emasculation, discusses in a broad overview who had eunuchs of what variety and why. It is interesting to read the Author's research into the etymology of various terms, and also interesting to find out that not all eunuchs in history were actually cut. There is great discussion on the translations of various terms, and who might have actually been intact and only in a honorary title and who wasn't! It blends well into Chapter 2, In the Beginning Were the Gods, which discusses castration in a religious sense and give the reader a good lesson in everyone from Horus, Isis and Seth to the Greek gods to Cybele and down to finally - Christianity. Scholz writes up various mythical castrati (not eunuchs) and real ones as well, and compares & contrasts them nicely. He also puts effort into trying to figure out WHY people wanted to do this instead of just stating who did what and when to whom.Chapter 3, Sacred Kingship, offers a look at certain obscure rituals and castrati as they pertained to their services to the King - whoever it might have been - and why they were so valuable.Chapter 4, Eunuchs in the Hellenistic & Roman Worlds, is exactly that - an in-depth look at those eunuchs & castrati (there is a difference, you know, read the etymology) of those periods. Again, Scholz presents a wealth of interesting facts including commentary on the Greeks not beign very big on the idea of castration while the Romans - while seeming to have taken steps to limit it - almost couldn't do without it! Yes, we have mention of Tiberius' "fishes" and Roman ladies' "boys" in service!Chatper 5, The Emporer of China & His Eunuchs, has more illustrations and also some very detailed "first hand" stories of young boys' castrations to prepare them for imperial service. This chapter pretty much sums up more information on Chinese eunuchs than all of the other sources I've read, Henry T'sai's History... included. (Which by the way, is pretty dry and lacks any kind of speculation or details.) One of the accounts of a castration, in fact, is almost like an EA story!Chapter 6, Sexuality in Early Christianity, as they say in Germany, "ohne Worte". Goes without saying. You can pretty much think "Origen" and get the feel of this chapter. Sex is bad, let's cut it off. Still, it's got a lot of good history in it.Chapter 7, From the Origins of Islam to the Topkapi Seraglio, starts off with a bang - an excerpt from The Arabian Nights, in fact, twelfth night ... "During my unconsciousness, a barber was sent for who castrated me completely and cauterized the wounds with red-hot irons..." Now that's an introduction! Did you know that the Moslems actually got the idea of using eunuchs from the Byzantines? Again, lots of detail into who did what and what kind of eunuch you needed to do it! So much for the idea that eunuchs / castrati were passive and submissive and basically harmless!



<hr>

Paolo<img src="http://www.eunuch.org/bbs_banners/paolo_banner1.jpg" border="0">

Book Review : Eunuchs & Castrati : A Cultural History by P. Scholz

Book Review : Eunuchs & Castrati : A Cultural History by P. Scholz

Re: Book Review : Eunuchs & Castrati : A Cultural History by P. Scholz

Re: Book Review : Eunuchs & Castrati : A Cultural History by P. Scholz

Re: Book Review : Eunuchs & Castrati : A Cultural History by P. Scholz

Re: Book Review : Eunuchs & Castrati : A Cultural History by P. Scholz