Eunuchs in Historical Perspective

Abstract

This article examines the meaning of the terms ‘eunuch’ and ‘castration’ and situates these terms in an historical context. It divides castrated eunuchs into two groups, those who castrate themselves voluntarily for religious reasons and those who are castrated by others either as a punishment or in order to create an individual who is significantly different from a whole man. This second group is further divided based on the tasks for which the eunuch is prepared. These may be sexual or lie in the area of personal service. Three major court cultures are compared, Islam, Byzantium, and China, and several religious cults that encourage self-castration are also discussed.