Fibula (penile)

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Athlete infibulating himself (psykter by the Syriskos Painter, c. 480 BC) Syriskos Painter - Psykter with Athlete and Servant Boy and Youth and a Dog - Walters 4877 - Side B Detail.jpg
Athlete infibulating himself (psykter by the Syriskos Painter, c. 480 BC)
Mural from Cave 198, Kizil Caves, 6th century CE Mural, Cave 198, Kizil.jpg
Mural from Cave 198, Kizil Caves, 6th century CE

A penile fibula is foremost a ring, attached with a pin through the foreskin to fasten it above the glans penis. [1] It was mainly used by ancient Roman culture, though it may have originated earlier. [2] This ring type of fibula has been described akin to a "large modern safety pin". [3] Its usage may have had several reasons, for example to avoid intercourse, to promote modesty or the belief that it helped preserve a man's voice. Some Jews also utilized fibulas to hide that they were circumcised. [4] [5] The word fibula could also be used in general in Rome to denote any type of covering of the penis (such as with a sheath) for the sake of voice preservation or sexual abstinence, it was often used by masters on their slaves for this purpose. [6] Fibulas were frequent subject of ridicule among satirists in Rome. [7] [8] [6] [3] [9]

Infibulation could be also a surgical procedure in which two holes were pierced in the foreskin, so a metal clasp could be locked on them to close the prepuce shut. This procedure was similarly criticized by Celsus. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreskin restoration</span> Process to expand skin on the penis

Foreskin restoration is the process of expanding the skin on the penis to reconstruct an organ similar to the foreskin, which has been removed by circumcision or injury. Foreskin restoration is primarily accomplished by stretching the residual skin of the penis, but surgical methods also exist. Restoration creates a facsimile of the foreskin, but specialized tissues removed during circumcision cannot be reclaimed. Actual regeneration of the foreskin is experimental at this time. Some forms of restoration involve only partial regeneration in instances of a high-cut wherein the circumcisee feels that the circumciser removed too much skin and that there is not enough skin for erections to be comfortable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genital modification and mutilation</span> Permanent or temporary changes to human sex organs

Genital modifications are forms of body modifications applied to the human sexual organs, such as piercings, circumcision, or labiaplasty.

Infibulation is the ritual removal of the external female genitalia and the suturing of the vulva, a practice found mainly in northeastern Africa, particularly in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan. The World Health Organization refers to the procedure as Type III female genital mutilation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoral hood</span> Part of the vulva that covers and protects the glans of the clitoris

In female humans and primates in general, the clitoral hood is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the glans of the clitoris; it also covers the external clitoral shaft, develops as part of the labia minora and is homologous with the foreskin in the male reproductive system. The clitoral hood is composed of mucocutaneous tissues; these tissues are between the mucous membrane and the skin, and they may have immunological importance because they may be a point of entry of mucosal vaccines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paraphimosis</span> Medical condition

Paraphimosis is an uncommon medical condition in which the foreskin of a penis becomes trapped behind the glans penis, and cannot be reduced. If this condition persists for several hours or there is any sign of a lack of blood flow, paraphimosis should be treated as a medical emergency, as it can result in gangrene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phimosis</span> Medical condition

Phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis cannot stretch to allow it to be pulled back past the glans. A balloon-like swelling under the foreskin may occur with urination. In teenagers and adults, it may result in pain during an erection, but is otherwise not painful. Those affected are at greater risk of inflammation of the glans, known as balanitis, and other complications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Prepuce</span> Purported product of the circumcision of Jesus

The Holy Prepuce, or Holy Foreskin, is one of several relics attributed to Jesus, consisting of the foreskin removed during the circumcision of Jesus. At various points in history, a number of churches in Europe have claimed to possess the Prepuce, sometimes at the same time. Various miraculous powers have been ascribed to it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genital piercing</span> Form of body piercing on a part of the genitalia

Genital piercing is a form of body piercing that involves piercing a part of the genitalia, thus creating a suitable place for wearing different types of jewellery. Nevertheless, the term may also be used pars pro toto to indicate all body piercings in the area of the anus, perineum, penis, scrotum, and vulva, including piercings such as anal, guiche, and pubic that do not involve perforation of genitalia. Genital piercings can be done regardless of sex, with various forms of piercings available. The main motive is beautification and individualization; in addition, some piercings enhance sexual pleasure by increasing stimulation. Pre-modern genital piercings is most culturally widespread in Southeast Asia, where it has been part of traditional practice since ancient times. Records of genital piercing are found in the Kama Sutra.

Genital mutilation can refer to:

Male circumcision has been a subject of controversy for a number of reasons including religious, ethical, sexual, and medical.

Circumcision likely has ancient roots among several ethnic groups in sub-equatorial Africa, Egypt, and Arabia, though the specific form and extent of circumcision has varied. Ritual male circumcision is known to have been practiced by South Sea Islanders, Aboriginal peoples of Australia, Sumatrans, Incas, Aztecs, Mayans and Ancient Egyptians. Today it is still practiced by Jews, Muslims, Coptic Christians, Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Druze, Samaritans and some tribes in East and Southern Africa, as well as in the United States, South Korea and Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreskin piercing</span>

Foreskin piercing is a piercing that passes through the foreskin of the penis. It is the male equivalent of a clitoral hood piercing in females.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kynodesme</span> Cord or string worn by ancient Greece and Etruria athletes

A kynodesmē was a cord or string or sometimes a leather strip that was worn primarily by athletes in Ancient Greece and Etruria to prevent the exposure of the glans penis in public and to restrict untethered movement of the penis during sporting competition. It was tied tightly around the akroposthion, the most distal, tubular portion of the foreskin that extends beyond the glans. As depicted in Ancient Greek art the kynodesme was worn by some athletes, actors, poets, symposiasts and komasts. It was worn temporarily while in public and could be taken off and put back on at will. The remaining length of cord could either be attached to a waist band to pull the penis upward and expose the scrotum, or tied around the base of the penis and scrotum so that the penis appeared to curl upwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fibula (brooch)</span> Ancient pin or brooch for securing clothing

A fibula is a brooch or pin for fastening garments, typically at the right shoulder. The fibula developed in a variety of shapes, but all were based on the safety-pin principle. Unlike most modern brooches, fibulae were not only decorative; they originally served a practical function: to fasten clothing for both sexes, such as dresses and cloaks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circumcision</span> Removal of the human foreskin

Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. Topical or locally injected anesthesia is generally used to reduce pain and physiologic stress. Circumcision is generally electively performed, most commonly done as a form of preventive healthcare, as a religious obligation, or as a cultural practice. It is also an option for cases of phimosis, other pathologies that do not resolve with other treatments, and chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs). The procedure is contraindicated in cases of certain genital structure abnormalities or poor general health.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circumcision of Jesus</span> Event from the life of Jesus of Nazareth and common subject in Christian art

The circumcision of Jesus is an event from the life of Jesus, according to the Gospel of Luke chapter 2, which states:

And when eight days were fulfilled to circumcise the child, his name was called Jesus, the name called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clitoral hood reduction</span> Cosmetic surgical procedure

Clitoral hood reduction, also termed clitoral hoodectomy, clitoral unhooding, clitoridotomy, or (partial) hoodectomy, is a plastic surgery procedure for reducing the size and the area of the clitoral hood in order to further expose the glans of the clitoris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorsal slit</span> Incision on penis foreskin expoing the glans

A dorsal slit is a single incision along the upper length of the foreskin from the tip to the corona, exposing the glans without removing any tissue. An ancient practice, it has been a traditional custom among a number of peoples, particularly Filipinos and Pacific Islanders, probably for thousands of years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreskin</span> Retractable fold of skin which covers and protects the glans of the penis

In male human anatomy, the foreskin, also known as the prepuce, is the double-layered fold of skin, mucosal and muscular tissue at the distal end of the human penis that covers the glans and the urinary meatus. The foreskin is attached to the glans by an elastic band of tissue, known as the frenulum. The outer skin of the foreskin meets with the inner preputial mucosa at the area of the mucocutaneous junction. The foreskin is mobile, fairly stretchable and sustains the glans in a moist environment. Except for humans, a similar structure known as a penile sheath appears in the male sexual organs of all primates and the vast majority of mammals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penile sheath</span> Non-human mammal foreskin

Almost all mammal penises have foreskins or prepuces, although in non-human cases, the foreskin is usually a sheath into which the whole penis is retracted. In koalas, the foreskin contains naturally occurring bacteria that play an important role in fertilization. In some bat species, the prepuce contains an erectile tissue structure called the accessory corpus cavernosus.

References

  1. Schultheiss, D.; Mattelaer, J.J.; Hodges, F.M. (2003). "Preputial infibulation: From ancient medicine to modern genital piercing". BJU International. 92 (7): 758–763. doi: 10.1046/j.1464-410X.2003.04490.x . PMID   14616462.
  2. Buchli, Victor (2017). Material culture : critical concepts in the social sciences. Vol. 1 : Pt. 2. Taylor & Francis. ISBN   9780415267205.
  3. 1 2 Younger, John (2004). Sex in the Ancient World from A to Z. Routledge. ISBN   9781134547029.
  4. "Epispasm: Circumcision in Reverse". www.cirp.org.
  5. "The Ancient World". Ares Publishers. 1985.
  6. 1 2 Golden, Mark; Toohey, Peter (1997). Inventing Ancient Culture: Historicism, Periodization and the Ancient World. Psychology Press. ISBN   9780415099608.
  7. Rubin, Nissan (2008). Time and Life Cycle in Talmud and Midrash: Socio-anthropological Perspectives. Academic Studies Press. pp. 54–. ISBN   978-1-934843-07-9.
  8. Hubbard, Thomas K. (2013). A Companion to Greek and Roman Sexualities. Wiley. pp. 356–. ISBN   978-1-118-61068-8.
  9. "Infibulation". www.sacred-texts.com.
  10. Frederick M. Hodges, The Ideal Prepuce in Ancient Greece and Rome: Male Genital Aesthetics and Their Relation to Lipodermos, Circumcision, Foreskin Restoration, and the Kynodesme. Bulletin of the History of Medicine, volume 57, p. 375-405