(Capturing the oriental other; the Eunuch watches from the dark, depths of the background as a naked woman enjoys "exotic" music.http://art.thewalters.org/detail/18275)
Origins
Male castration had been practiced for centuries before the rise of the castrati in 16th century Italy. This practice was often tied to performances like religious festivals, cult practices, public punishment or as a reinstatement of the social order. Castrated bodies are generally associated with religion/spirituality, sexuality, and (lack of) power.
The castrated body is found around the world. Piotr O. Scholz's "Eunuchs and Castrati: A Cultural History," explore how bodies perform sexuality and emasculation.
-The cult of Cybele and Attics & The Code of Hammurabi (c.1700 B.C.) – enthusiastic priests emasculated themselves with a sharp stone or knife in the course of frenzied, orgiastic festivities that celebrated the memory of the self-emasculation of Attis" (Scholz, 17).
The castrated body is found around the world. Piotr O. Scholz's "Eunuchs and Castrati: A Cultural History," explore how bodies perform sexuality and emasculation.
-The cult of Cybele and Attics & The Code of Hammurabi (c.1700 B.C.) – enthusiastic priests emasculated themselves with a sharp stone or knife in the course of frenzied, orgiastic festivities that celebrated the memory of the self-emasculation of Attis" (Scholz, 17).
-"Religion made possible a form of Eros that transcended sexuality" (5) - shamanism, mythical narration and the practice of cults. Hermaphroditism promised people the transformation into different beings "on par with the gods" (10). An example: "the shaman's use of ecstasy to change his sex or form during the performance of various rituals" (10). One way people entered this state of frenzy was through dance. In these shamanistic rituals, it was believed that magic created a gender change and gave rise to the idea of dual sexuality (12).
-Achieve androgyny of the gods - symbolizes mankind's eternal longing for perfection (5). The gods had perfect bodies, that were “Rising above all things of the earth” (7). Gods were considered bisexual beings who reflected nature and dual sexuality (10).
-Angels - asexual beings liberated from the bondage of human sexuality (13). By castrating boys, a culture could "preserve the angelic quality," the neutral ground before developing into an adult body of lascivious sin (22).
-Bedchamber attendants at harems - "passive, neutered creatures modeled on angels who were manifestations of the workings of divine power" (23). Eunuchs represented a "third sex" as well as the "extended arm of the monarch" (23). Punishment for slaves.
-Punishment for men who committed adultery or raped a free-born noblewoman (24) - evidence in Terence play and ancient Egyptian court records
-Bedchamber attendants at harems - "passive, neutered creatures modeled on angels who were manifestations of the workings of divine power" (23). Eunuchs represented a "third sex" as well as the "extended arm of the monarch" (23). Punishment for slaves.
-Punishment for men who committed adultery or raped a free-born noblewoman (24) - evidence in Terence play and ancient Egyptian court records
According to Scholz, a body marked by castration is an emasculated body. It may be generalized that the practice of castration marks a body as rising spiritually above the status of men and women, yet falling far below the powers of Kings, gods or others who mark bodies.