The etymological origin of eunuch is found in the Greek word eunoûchos , which derived from the Latin eunūchus . A eunuch is a man who has been subjected to castration (that is, the removal of his sexual organs).
The eunuch may have suffered partial or total castration. When both the testicles and the penis are ablated , it is called emasculation . In some cases, however, only the testicles or only the penis are removed.
It is often said that a man transformed into a eunuch accesses a different gender condition: society does not treat men with genitals and eunuchs the same. The eunuch becomes feminized due to hormonal alterations, although it does not register a genetic change.
In ancient times, there were customs that contemplated male castration. Eunuchs were sought, for example, to take care of the women who were part of a harem. At the level of art, castrati were eunuchs who were stripped of their genital organs in childhood so that they could preserve their high voices.
In "The Bible" there are different references to eunuchs. Thus, for example, it establishes that men were castrated either as a punishment or once they had been enslaved. In the same way, mention is made of characters who were such, such as Saasgaz, who served as guardian of the wives and concubines of King Ahasuerus.
In addition to all of the above, we cannot ignore the fact that there are ancient documents in which it is proven that the term eunuch was also used with another meaning. Specifically, it was used to simply refer to an official who worked in the court of the corresponding king.
We must not forget either that in some African tribes when a man wanted to marry a woman he had to prove his bravery to her. What was the way to demonstrate it? Giving his future wife another man 's genitals. That is, to get married she had to turn another man into a eunuch.
Likewise, it is established by legends that during Ancient Greece the Amazons who did not want men to procreate mutilated them by cutting off their genitals. And not only that, also in Imperial China it was established that in order to work in the Emperor's Court men had to become eunuchs. For this, they underwent a very painful castration in which the hemorrhages were notable and then endured four days of intense pain.
Currently the practice of turning a man into a eunuch is not common. However, in certain medical cases, castration becomes essential to preserve the health of the individual. An accident can also cause a man to be transformed into a eunuch.
In colloquial language , finally, a man who is effeminate or who does not show virility is called a eunuch. In this case, it is a derogatory or pejorative appeal: "Don't be a eunuch and do your job" , "You are a eunuch! "You always hide when there are problems."