eunuchs

[eugene]

Does somebody knows any researches about the eunuchs in ancient world? I am especially interested in hellenistic era.

[elagababbalus]

Although not the Hellenistic period Chapter 15 Eunuchs of Judith Herrin's Byzantium may be of interest

[D B Campbell]

Does somebody knows any researches about the eunuchs in ancient world?

You might try E. Maass, "Eunuchus und Verwandtes", Rheinisches Museum 74 (1925), 432ff (PDF).

[Phaichtos]

Interesting... I've never studied anything on eunuchs and have only seen them mentioned in passing in my own research. I will however never forget the first time I read Edward Gibbon's description of them as, and I quote, "those pernicious vermin of the east." :lol:

[M. Demetrius]

Well, they couldn't play foot ball, because although they had feet... :roll: :lol:

[Phaichtos]

Well, they couldn't play foot ball, because although they had feet... :roll: :lol:

HAHA I knew that was coming :lol:

[SMC]

Eunuchs in Antiquity and Beyond edited Shaun Tougher. Shaun also had a previous work on Eunuchs in the Byzantine period which I think has some earlier refences to antiquity. He gave a very interesting paper at the Byzantium In Belfast evening seminar series some years ago in which he described the various processes of eunuch making and discuss what counted as eunuch - interesting as much because of the content as watching some of the male students move uncomfortably in their seats when the processes were detailed. Bricks, string, needles etc, need I say more. Lets just say the mortality rate was very high in quite a few procedures and it wasn't always done in childhood.

[john m roberts]

This brings up a question I've never seen addressed: were eunuchs in the ancient world as valued for their singing as they were in post-Renaissance Europe?

[Orlirva]

From a modern perspective, I had a hard time understanding the whole eunuch thing. I mean, there seemed to be such a strong ancient emphasis on dynasty, not just at the ruler level but among fairly ordinary folks. Where everyone practiced nepotism to the max and worked hard to get advancement for their own sons. This way exceeds what we find in most modern cultures. We may love our kids, but we don't generally sacrifice everything so that our kids can be more powerful and wealthy. Even to the extent that its somehow a virtue to cast our young adult kids into the working world even if the family could be setting these kids up as masters of their own businesses, or older adults take (for example) reverse mortgages and otherwise are ready to spend everything on themselves (you cant take it with you...) at the expense of future estate/inheritance.
Then there is the issue of how much moderns look forward not just 10 years, but to their children's and grandchildren's generations. Or rather, perhaps how we don't and instead rack up government debt our grandkids will have to pay for, or environmental damage and overpopulation that seem likely to leave an inferior lifestyle for future generations. Certainly we seem especially weak in thinking how 7 generations in the future will fare (refering to: "In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations"~Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy )
So, I was thinking that the odd emphasis on dynasty (and thus the non-threat of eunuchs) of the ancients that succeeded (are big in history that survives for us to read) perhaps represents the results of numerous generations of Darwinian selection of cultures where parents systematically planned, worked and, indeed, sacrificed so that their kids and grandkids could succeed. If a whole culture really focused on the future generations, it seems to me that often led to a type of greatness.
In ancient times anyway.
That may partially explain the 'coincidence' in the dynastic obsession of so many cultures that became empires.

[Orlirva]

I forgot to mention the odd point that eunuchs were somehow not perceived as threats since they could not be succeeded by sons to form a long term dynasty. That is completely alien to modern thinking. It is so alien that when I think about it I have a hard time getting my mind around it - it is not just a little weird, its space alien-like alien. Who were these people?