Back to my basic questions

Now, finally, I would like to come back to my original questions about who/how/why invented such ideas of ‘circumcision’. Here I drew much helpful information from the book ‘Genesis of Symbolic Thought’ by Alan Barnard (highly recommended)

 

Genesis of Symbolic Thought, Alan Barnard

A person can only grasp the concept of ‘circumcision’ if they are enough evolved (like homo sapiens (sapiens)) to understand the meaning and implications of doing this. Furthermore, in order to connect this practice with cultural or religious identity and embed it into the cycle of life, more abstract concepts and symbolizations must be understood and communicated.  Theories of mind and the understanding of levels on intentionality must also be available. 

 The generation of symbolic thought could have occurred about 100,00 years ago but most certainly around 50,000 years ago, as can be derived from cave art. This came together with the use of tools for ornamentation (and possibly modification) of the body. And of course, the understanding of concepts of fertility and sexual behavior must have been evolved as well. 

 

Petroglyph, Fremont archaeological culture, eastern Utah, United States. Copyright by J. Q. Jacobs, jqjacobs.net". This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5. Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Petroglyph_jqjacobs.jpg

I think it can be safely assumed that Neandertals (120,000 BCE) as well as the upcoming Homo sapiens already had a complex understanding of life and death (e.g., burial rites). They also must have understood the importance of the ‘reproductive organs’ – and they must also have had a pretty good understanding of how they worked.

 I assume they must have felt that ‘fathering’ and ‘mothering’ a child is part of the mystery of life, something that must be secured and protected by all means and at all cost. The knew about sickness, bodily harm and death, and that it is most important to produce offspring.

Then they (most certainly) must have felt sexual desire und lust. Were they surprised about this, fascinated, or profoundly bewildered?

They must have developed a sufficient understanding of how the sex organs facilitated reproduction (conceiving, birth). Have they revered these organs (I think so)?

 

Anbangbang_gallery_Mimi_rock_art_cropped. Source: Photo by and ©2002 Dustin M. Ramsey (Kralizec!). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5. Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anbangbang_gallery_Mimi_rock_art_cropped.jpg

But how did they communicate their ideas among themselves? By gestures, symbolic paintings, onomatopoeia (the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes). How did they express their more abstract ideas? For sure, they must have been creative and invented means to do this, and for sure, they also must have had their prodigies.

Maybe they have felt the need to paint, tattoo, or ornament their bodies, or to carry out other types of body modifications like elongated necks (means: pushed down collar bones), lip plugs, discs or plates, [you see, I am talking about these practices, though very strange to me), teeth sharpening, scarification, … there are certainly more extremes [now I stop]..

 Maybe they have felt the need to sacrifice ‘something’ to the Powers of the World (earthly elements, mystical figures, symbolic representations of abstract meanings, …).  But what to sacrifice? Flowers, fruits of the garden, animals, children (see Inca child sacrifices), adolescents, grown-up people, foreigners, slaves, …. but would anyone dare sacrifice parts of his private parts (must certainly be a male issue).

 

Kohaito, grotta di adi alauti con pitture rupestri databili al 2500 ac ca. 14 bestiame. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5. Author: Sailko.Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kohaito,_grotta_di_adi_alauti_con_pitture_rupestri_databili_al_2500_ac_ca._14_bestiame.JPG

Sure, they most likely invented methods to cut foreskin if there was a dangerous phimosis, and must also have come up with remedies against other life threating harms (e.g., during birth, involuntary penis mutilation due to an accident, …). Did they practice male (and female) circumcision just to keep them clean and non-smelly?  Did they cut on order to minimize or even extend sexual pleasure and/or to prevent masturbation (loss of semen).

 As there were most certainly fights amongst different tribes / groups, they may have felt the need to kill and capture some remains of their victims as signs of their superiority (like scalps, body parts, and, yes, foreskins, (or entire penises).  

 Speaking about foreskin as a trophy: see the Bible (Old Testament): Book of Samuel, Chapter 18, Verses 26 and 27: When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

 

Chongoni Rock-Art Area-110134. This file has been provided by UNESCO (unesco.org) as part of a GLAM-Wiki partnership. It is also available on the UNESCO website. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 IGO

And what about female circumcision / cutting / mutilation? To keep them at bay, to prevent promiscuity, to tame their sexual appetite? I cannot really assume that this practice was invented by woman. I think it was male control issue. Am I wrong?

And why is only the (male) prepuce sacrificed to a God and not the cut female parts? (Oh well, for sure, woman are less worthy than men, so their body parts don’t count as legitimate sacrifices).

As you can see, I don’t know the answers. The origin and initial concepts remain a mystery. Sadly.