eunuchs-msg - 3/30/00

Eunuchs and castration in period. References.

NOTE: See also the files: punishments-msg, birth-control-msg, Byzantine-msg, monks-msg, aphrodisiacs-msg, p-sex-msg, Middle-East-msg.

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    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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From: Simone89 at aol.com
Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 11:09:48 EDT
Subject: Fwd: D. Ayalon, "Eunuchs, Caliphs and Sultans"
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org

Here is the updated information on the "Eunuchs" book that several gentles 
requested.
Simone

Date:         Wed, 27 Oct 1999 10:22:30 -0400
From: Steven Judd <judd at scsu.ctstateu.edu>
Subject:      D. Ayalon, "Eunuchs, Caliphs and Sultans"
To: H-MIDEAST-MEDIEVAL at H-NET.MSU.EDU

        The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
                The Institute of Asian and African Studies
                The Max Schloessinger Memorial Foundation

                wishes to announce the publication of

                        Eunuchs, Caliphs and Sultans:
                        A study of power relationships
                                         by
                                        David Ayalon

The Magnes Press 1999; 376 pp., including bibliography and index.
(distributed by The Max Schloessinger Memorial Foundation at the Institute
of Asian andAfrican Studies of the Hebrew University.)

        The study of the eunuch phenomenon in Islam is still in its infancy in
spite of its unique importance within Muslim civilization until the early
twentieth century. There has existed an aversion to the study of the
subject among scholars in general. For its study within Islam, there was
yet another obstacle: the misunderstandings of the terms by which eunuchs
were designated. The book covers a period from the beginning of Islam
until the beginning of the sixteenth century, and deals mainly with
eunuchs in the major centers of Islam in the East (Umayyads, 'Abbasids,
Seljuks, Zangids, Ayy=FDbis, Mamluks and, to some extent, the Fatimids of
Egypt). It is not a history of the eunuchs in that wide area, but is
rather concerned with the power accumulated by the eunuchs militarily,
socially and even economically (especially as trustees of financial
affairs and property).

        The ultimate aim of the study is to bring out the close ties
connecting  the harem, the eunuchs and the Mamluks. In all these areas,
the dominant  element had been slaves (Islamized and often enfranchised)
who were  imported from beyond the frontiers of Islam. The eunuchs were
usually the  trainers of the young Mamluk=FDsand quite often their
commanders. The  Mamluks themselves, in various and changing forms,
constituted the mainstay of Islam's military might through the greatest part
of its history. The book also discusses castrations, the eunuchs' prices, and
their so-called sexual life, romances and marriages.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

                        ORDER FORM

The price of the volume is $38. Postage and handling: $2 for the first
volume and $1 for each additional volume. Members of the association "From
Jahiliyya to Islam" will pay $27  + $2 (direct sales only, not through
booksellers). Cheques payable to the Schloessinger Memorial Foundation
should be sent to the Director of Publications, The Max Schloessinger
Memorial Foundation, Institute of Asian and African Studies, The Hebrew
University, Jerusalem 91905, Israel. Please note that we do not accept
Eurocheques, but personal and institutional cheques are acceptable.
Inquiries: E-mail: msjsai at pluto.mscc.huji.ac.il / fax: +972-2-588-3658

Please send ______ copies of "Eunuchs, Caliphs and Sultans"

Name: _______________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

Steven C. Judd
Assistant Professor of History
Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, CT 06515
ph: 203/392-5605        fax: 203/392-5670
judd at scsu.ctstateu.edu

<the end>
Edited by Mark S. Harris	eunichs-msg	Page 2 of 2