Curing Cut or Ritual Mutilation

Some Remarks on the Practice of Female and Male Circumcision in Graeco-Roman Egypt

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3389669
AutoresMary Knight, Mary Jane Knight (American University in Cairo, autor de correspondencia)
Año2001
Volumen92
Número2
Páginas317-338
Fecha de publicación2001-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaIsis (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0021-1753 • E-ISSN: 1545-6994
EditorialUniversity of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1086/385184
PMID11590895
OpenAlexW2037130996
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12

Ancient texts and archaeological artifacts provide the starting point for a review of the surgical aspects of female genital mutilation (FGM) in ancient Egypt. Analysis of the ancient surgical procedure incorporates modern experience on the subject as well as ancient literary and cultural perspectives. Comparison of FGM with ancient Egyptian male circumcision and consideration of motivations for the practice contribute to our understanding of FGM. In particular, the documented association between male circumcision and generative ability suggests a novel comparison with a natural process in the female--the breaking of the hymen on first intromission--and ultimately a new hypothesis for the origin of ancient FGM

Ancient history · Biology · Female circumcision · Gynecology · Sex organ · Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues · Genital Health and Disease · History · Medicine