rzel erpeN pue ]leppeN euouleu qll/ú

ror,.lol laLlsrlA ^q

porlp=

esrql ued

rr

^Pofl ueurnH er{} Jo ̂roJSIH

e roJ slueurãerg

Ií&".':. : . I,. . . . i

Fro,::.r::.:i:::i.r:

t\ N

,:'''l.l

' ì :

' . . ì .f] , j4 | í

f r r - . ì ) r : i l r r . . Ì : ., . , ' , i_. . . : . r , r . . ; , - "1. _

í ì J . - . p, . , , , I

1..Lr l 1. . .1 , ; f 1:| , r i . r r , : : . ,

. .,','i .e-rcr1;.i -

r . .... r ' f 11r a"r t . l :

4' .."'" tl"t.:

. . . ;

. , . " . ,

' : : : : . - ] , ,L. : ì : : . .. : ' .ê,', alrl f l :

,:. ,r"....,1'pL.- :' : l r r ' í r i *1 r .i .r. e-.,,,,.í i ' ;1i.,,t

' l : ï ' " "" . : '. r:..-.;r:.

' : ' i . ' - í " ' -J"^1" ' "i , : . ' , . r : . . , . ; , ; ; : ; : : ,, '

- 1"1 .. ]i.',-t " .r. l::hi

',. . t . , , . f : :

; ,é 1ir- . . : . . t , : . . , .

L 'Apocatypse, Abbey oÍ Saint Sever, l l th century(Par is, Bibl iothèque nat ionale).

r58

65r

'e^rãfuoJ ol elqe ore - poolq esol oLl,r\ uèuro-\\'sr ]pr{l - rsnpd-ouelu peqJeãr lou e^eq oq^\ ueuo.!\ pue spr8 epqnu Í1uo 'arotu sr lpr{^A 'uãruesJo..'Pees,, fnq'poo1q lou sr eJuplsqns srql're,ra,lro11 '3uraq uptunq 3ur,rr1 ',rtau srql

,o uorleeJl eql ol ,'iressacau sreadde lpL[] ecup]sqns e .èuo eletuèt eqt ol Ípoq aletuarÌl ruo{ peie,tuor sr eruelsqns e uorlcunfuor sÌq] q8norqr lalqrssodrul sr uoÌtJnl)-ordar qJIq,!\ ]noqlr,!\ uorlcunfuor €.Jo ]lnsel eql sr .ureluor ueJ Ípoq st1 poolq -toÍtrluenb llerus req] tl urlltr,\\ 3urÍuec 'Lule,$ pue 8ur,rr1 uroq 'p1rqc V 'teeq ,(poquaqlll pue poolg 'esdroc e 'p1oc seuoteq alrq.!\ pelq sr tpLll Ípoq 8ur.rr1 e ialr1 sarouapÍpoq aql aprsul ecueserd s11 '.{elsureru s,e-JII 'eJll ot Jprtuessã sr poolg 'Ípoq aqt urpewèrJèr Ílluelsuoc osle sr lr'uetuo,n.1o eseJ eql ur elnleuJo s,\\el àLlì ol Surprorrero tuoprJrp q8norqr 'e.]ll -to aslnor eqt uÌ lsol sr poolq.JI 'erotu qcnu Írrec llnpeaqt .'o asoql lnq 'poolq Jo lunoLue ureueJ e Írrec sure,\ slr ,uroq sr ptlql e ueg^\

Buos 1:dsoÈ uPruàtuy-ure8e asu eur,rr8 sauoq asaq

.\\ou (ururoJ-e ãsl 'Prol ãsrew 'q€ãHure8e asrr ol eur.u8 sâuoq âsoei noql ue ãlãu,\\ 'tu?PV 'u€PV

Suos s.uerppq: qsr 13u3-pea.rq iu pur.r8 or sìuoq srq r.\prl 1.1

PeèP ãr{ eq ro'âÀrle ãq ãgueuqsrlSuE uPJo poolq ãql llãrus I

tunt-oJ-rJ-ããl

? Bn V -t a ! | lr ? H as r o5 u Dt J

d!qsuotleleU pue stsouog

Jloql turuJocuoc satJoor.lJ_ luolcuv aruos

:poolE pue uatues

SEMEN AND BLOOD

This s imple combinat ion of 1àcts, bui l t on commonplace human exper ience,has been the cause oÍ speculat ion in aÌ l societ ies. Where do blood and semen comefrom? Hou' are thev constitutecl insicÌe the bodv? In u'hat relationship do they standto each other? What happens u,hen conception takes pÌace? And further sti l l : How<ìoes the biological l ink reÌate to the social l ink? What determines descent? Holr' istl.re continuitv betu.een the l iving and the dead ascertained along the intenvovenlines oÍ'progenv? What goes into the making of a person? What does he or she trans-mit in turn? In r.r 'hat u.av does a child combine u'hat it receives Írom each of itsparents? Hou.can \\ 'e account Ítrr l ikenesses? And so on.

To these questions ancl to manv others - for the above cataÌogue is far fromexhaustive - complex ans\\:ers have been provided. Such ans'ir.ers take the form oÍ'more or Ìess elaborate theories of the person, aimecl characteristicallv at presentinga coherent, u'ell-ordered rvorld image, Íraught rvith meaning and able to accountÍèrr its existence and reproduction. Each human group, through the collective andinterrelatecl thinking of ìts members, produces its ou.n theon. The anthropologi-caì outÌook takes account of these diverse and original versions and oÍ'their innerlogical structure. Cìearh., these theories have no scientif ic basis, though they exem-plifi a mode of thinking that arises, if not from experimentation, at least from obser-vation and experience, and may r,r 'ell be thought oÍ'as belonging to arationaÌ order.Thev are not true fè,r that reason. Instead, thev are regarded as true simpl,v becausethev account satisfãctori l l ' Íbr the facts that meet the eve.

Stil l and all, hor.r 'ever diverse and unscientif ic these theories may be, it appearsthat onlv a smal l number of expÌanatorv models can be bui l t that are capabÌe ofansu.ering certain centraÌ questions. The thinking involved in the building of suchmocìels has to account for the same directÌv observabÌe empiricaÌ data, rvhich Ìeavescant possibil i t ies of choice. The ansu.er, if shaped in the mincl that Íbrmulates it,is a lso alreadv shapecl bv th ings themselves. Hence, the main point of ref lect ionconcerning the genesis oÍ 'b lood and semen - the subject $. i th u 'h ich I am con-cerned here - deep-rooted as it is in the anatomv ancl the phvsiologv of both thehuman and animal bodr., comes up against an init ial constraint of a purelv physicaÌorder. I bel ieve that th is constraint explains u 'hv people ì iv ing in verv di f ferentepochs and in verv cli l ferent parts of the u'orld have arrivecl at remarkablv similartheories, as w.ell as u'hv those theories, in their explanatorv acuteness and sophisti-

l6o

I9I

ol Plrrlf, aql uI Pè]se^ sI 'Poolq olul Pelnusuerl 'Pèes s.l)uPqsnq eql 'Pe^IeJuos sI

Pllqr e ueq^A'sPrB ãlIqnu ol PãrPdLuoc se urluo'\\ llnPE 'iq Pèqs Poolq IenllsueurJoJJur[)unqt èLlì rol slunoJrf ìttìì ìJPl P'\JsuàLu lrLì qBnolLlì sàsoJ rt.ls tlJlLl \\.lo uPd ]sr

-8.re1 eqf ,poo1q.lo snldlrs e qtr.r\ è-It^\ ãr.ll seltt,rord sasnods uãor\\lãQ âslnoJl,alul Ien-xèS - Sursrnu lou lueu8eld reqtrau SÌ upruo,\\ e uãq.\\ 'st lPgl - Saur!l ,ireurplo u1

'Alrluã enDlun P sP

rèqtà8ol pe8leru,p.roc leurcls eql .Jo lpql pue seuoq êql-+o lPqì'.uoiletu:utBuo uoru

-ruor e e^eLI 01 reãddp pIno,\\ poolq pup uetues .,(1rnãrque IpnPrsèl slt{] .}o alrds ul.a8ets alerpalulêlur ue Í1uo sI uetuès.Ìl'poo1q-Jo Lulot eql uÌ uorlalduor Sur.terqce

Íq ro,ssacord leuorteuloJsuert p jo ê8ets elPullln eql sI uetues-J! 'JlPls rolrd P ol

3ur1;a,r.ar Íq raqtra 'Ípoq s,uer-uo.\\ àLll èPtsul Poolq olul sulnl uàtues 'uo relel

'uorteu8erdlul rol Pellnbel sI Pue 'uPLu ol Í1uo s8uolaq qJIq^\ lPàLl PuP 'i8laua.1oturot lelnJrlred leqr.lo aS.reqcsrp 1n3.re,nocl e.iq paualcrnb sr Ítuaqole ãllue8 slql'eceld

seìel uoÌ]eu8e-rdur uèqAA 'uolleLurojul è[r]ll è^Pq I L[Jtq^\ ]noqe uolleturo.Jsu€ll

e .uelues pup poolq olul surnl pue ,Í1r.rr1ce leorsÍqd laq]o iiue ro 3ur11e.r.r Íq uorlou

)lur tes sr ry'ipoq ueunq ãqt q8nolqt Ílrarnb seleIn]lIJ illreurpro PUP (.,lele'ü(dor,, ro.,'rele.$ ian13,,) a.IDUnz n.u Pãllel sI'snoul8tllJnur PuP ìJIql 'eluelsqns qsÌPolur le s st 1l '^

Ídor,, ro .,'rele.$ .'ran1ìí,,) arDunz n.u Pãllel sI 'snoulõell-per srql 'sãuoq s.ueu èql ut luesald èJuelsqns aql aqr.lo Sururerp lelol-leeu 'lelruq

PUP ìJltll 'eluPlsqns qsÌP

e ol Peqtlrse sI uled eq1 'fq8ru,\lè^ lPtl],.PUtlJ P JPEur,, ãur'req3o ]lnsal oql are suted

srLì J\npràq sràqìo cqt iq PàsPàì st sààuì rlos Pue surtd >1req Jo 'lr'\o 11e Surq:c ;o

leerqÍep le sureldcuot ot{,t\ uPüI e leql Preeq uel.}o è^eq I 'Ple'\\ul PãìJns Í11erel11 aq

ol tqSnoqt sì rlf,rrl^\,pãès elptu ât{l uodn PalJexè eQ o} pe,ret[eq sI uol]Jns õuolls

Í1euer1xe up ílnJlo seop ]l ueq^\ 'uolllPuorJld .rrpsserau P sÌ lo[] eLI]Jo uol]eluelIo

relncrlred v .ã^ol aleru aldoed eLurl Íla^e areld aler tou sèop uorlPu8eldLul 'rolJel

-loJ e sp se^res qrlllr\,uurn1oc leurds srq pue sturoI stq'sauoq s.r[Ptu JLìì iq PaJnP-o-rd sr ratp.\\-xas 'slnllo uoIlPInJe[3 uel{.\\ uol]Isod rq8rr êLll ul sI 1o[r ãq] pepr'to'rd,p[lqJ eJo uor]cleJuor eql tnoqe s8ur.rq 'quo.u' olll ãPIsul Suruurds 'lolc poolq30 Pulìp 'poolq.lo sseu poueìJltl] P t{ll!\.relunorue sll '.(Juelod e^Ilelaue8 Ll}I'\\ uêPPI Pue

ìcrqt st lèle,\\-xès s.uolu Íluo ]nq :eslnoJlèlul lPnxas Suunp pe8reqcsrp sr qcrq.n '(nru

op.to uorlelsuerl lpletlI eql) ,,rele^\-xês,,Jo asodsrp sêxês t{loq'Luàt{l ol Burprorry.suotle^lãsqo esãql ser.lrlenb pue sesstdruoJua leql IePoLu e ]snlJsuoJ o] suolle^

-lesqo leJruro]rue lreqt Jo esn eìelu osel euÌìtng ut stueuloJur oules ,(r,u 'snq1.t:oíqns rLll uo e8pol.rrou1 ulrpoLU lsoul Jrìl qtr.rt.i1;et sàull.ìàLuos'uollPr

35aV-Af,L dfH fs oÕNVU.i

SEMEN AND BLOOD

$.hich it brings the bloocl encìor.ment necessarv to the suPport of'breath, heat and

lifè. With that encl in vieu-, sexual relations must be sustained and assiduous' and

the parents must contbrm to that requirement repeatedlv throughout the first seven

months of pregnanc-v (a recluire*",ìt thut, inciclentallv, is thought to account 1òr

the clistinctive leatures that ivpifv a posthumous chilct). As Íbr the mother' she makes

use of 'her o$,n blood, u.hich she no longer ìoses, as the ra$'mater ia l Íbr her chi lc l 's

!sç11,, including its skeleton.when the dangerous moment of her lving-in is passecl - a time 'uvhen consicler-

able heat is Ìost through the expuls io. t of ih. chi Ìc l 's bodv in a copious f low oÍ '

bÌoocl - the mother, u.ho is kept rvarm beside a cont inuouslv burning f i re and

through u.ashing rvith verv hot \\,ater, $' i l l realiz.e, step bv steP, the transmutations

that pertain exclusivelv to rnon]o,], the gluev substance contained in her bones lviÌ l

turn into milk. Esseniiullrt col,l br, nature, \vomen never manage to make sem€n'

the onlV bodv Íluicl $,ith fècun<Ì pol\ 'er. Out of their substance' thev obtain a less

perÍèct product, but one that nevertheless taxes aÌl of their capacitv Ítrr heat' This

explains the clisappearance of menses, at least during the f irst months of nursing'

All of the heat an<l all of the substance available goes into milk-making' And though

thcr. continuc to procluce enough bloocl to cover their o$'n needs' \\ 'omen have none

to spare. N{an aÌone has enough heat ancl Potencv to produce tu'o clistinct bodv

f lu ic ls, s imultaneouslv and pÌent i fu l lv '

During the nnrsing p"rio,l, sexual relations are normallY interrupted' This is a

rvel l -kno*.n prohibi tãn. The Samo expìain i t bv the fact that semen and mìÌk are

similar in naturc, though unequal in qualitr ' , hence their incompatibil i tr ' ' The intense

heat that per\acÌes semen risks burning uP the milk. Even through occasional sex-

ual intercourse, the spernl is thought to acìulterate the taste of milk' causing the

chiÌcl to turn a\\.a\ ..r ir]g fìom the breast, a svmptom that makes people suspect

that the parents have transgressed the prohibit ion'

That the mother fashions her inÍànt's skeÌeton rvith her ou'n blood mav startle

us, insoÍãr as the substance containecl in the bones later provides fresh supplies of

blood Íbr t l-re inclivicluaÌ an<ì sperm for the male chilcl. But we are dealing here u'ith

asocietvthat ispatr i l ineal(c lescentthroughthemalel ine)andpatr iv i r i locaì(asonlives $.ith his rvives at his father'r."ri, ler-rc.). These fàcts can be diverselv construed;

but Í irst of all, let us be ricl of'an i l lusion. wl-rat $'e have seen so Íàr shoulcl not be

t6z

t9r

'[e,ue]ut uolleleuê8-ãrlt{l p tnoqlt.\\'ãltledes àIP,(êql ecuo 'PeuIo[a-r aq or palrruuad

]ouèlePooIqaLueSèLl].}oeullê,\IssecêlPPuPeuIIluPulLUoPeloPoolqlef,IruêPl

.]o sèurl'sr leLlI'è^ISsârè.t IlPr lleqs è.\\ q]ÌLI.\\ sàutl Poo[q èsolllJo ((uot]Pullnl33P"Íq luauacroturèl Surlua,tard - lP Prulle lou êle ,(oql -lt - uI l[nsàl 'suorlrqlqo-rd

r,lJt-Ìs reLllo qlr.u reqrasoJ ,ie.u xe ldtuor rrotu IIlls e ut sãleuSor aq ol uaddeq oq'n

sursnor uèê,\\]èq os[e pue ,uorleraua8 pltLl] rlll ol dn suotltlel Poolq q]ns urè^\lèq

a8euretu Sururacuoc suoltlqtqold eql 'ueulo.\r e q8no;ql PâlPlâr sl eqs/ãtl uoqr\ ol

rotsorue Íue Íqreq/urt{ ul ljel lulrdlur lerrs,(qd eql .-1o srf,Prl IIP PIIt{r e ur a8undxe

ol úesseJau êrp suorlprêue8 Surue,ualur âèrLll lprìt lJlul ,ieru_a.rr àlnl sllll urou 'sJuÌl

o.\\l ãLl].to lolsaJue uotuLuoJ èrl1 Luo{ è^oulel .suollPleueã lnoJ lP ,\luo l)e,\\ollP sI

'.{1uo uar-u q8norqt âuII s.o33 o] Pelelel lolsèluP èletua3 P uror3 PaPueJSâP 'ãuII lera-lr[lor p ur è]pu8ol e qlr,!\ a8er.rreu p 'eldLuexe ãslJerd ila,r e asooqJ ol 'snqf 'sãlnl

airrueru otups pue p[Iq] eJo Surleru ãql-]o.i.roeqr slql uàà'\\lèq u^\erP êq UPJ Ièl[P-red e'paapul 'uollruSolor snotlsuoJ-io Ploqselql P qll'\\ P"PI'::'d uê^è êie eÂ\

'sureJls lprurse]rutJur se ,(1uo urpLueJ lo 'leãdclesIP slo]sèlue luPl_srp èloLu Luo{ ;utLuol suoruod esoql .reqlp.l s.lèLltour s(lJqloru aql Pue leq}ej s(lã

-Llloru s.raqle.] eql Luol.J (la,rrlcadser Suruoc suorlJpli eqr apecerd ol [)uP'quÌq ]P

laqlp.] ãrlt uor.1 Surr-uor teqf Íueduorrt ol lq8noql sl uollJÌrlJ stql - leqle.' s.leqloul

eLIl Luo4 .tâqloul elll purllèq ,pup sèuoq. lêq urqlt.\\ eluelsqns snouIBP[IJnru àt.l]

uro{ pè}eleue8 Íltuetsuo:l uorlJel-} rq} 'st lPtl} - lèt{}o..1 leq lo slLÌ LuolJ Sutcuol

pootqJo uoltrBrj rL[-] 'PIILll u'\\ol8 qf,Eâ lol 'lxêu ãql ol uollereuê8 auo uor3 sêsstd

euo se ,aurl 1o eslnof eql ur PèlPleltIqo aulo]Jq LIJIq,\\ 'apetu erP s]uetu,\\oPue

.\\èu uotun [n]]lnr.] Íra,ra ql116.punor8aro3 Jr{l ur lueserd-lèÀJ utelusr slolsetrue

Ipurelecl aqt 1tro4 euroJ ]eql slueLu,\\oPue eql q;-noql uè^ê 'ueluo'tt 3o Ícua8e aql

q8norql slotsèJue êl€ur uro4 pã^rerèl poo[q ut s]uelu.\\oPuã êsolllJo uotsserõel ê]ILl

-r1ul ãLll :úoaqt palecrtsrqdos PJo sèulrllno izPLI èLl] PuI.l e.$ 'uotsnlcuof, Ief,Iõol rlèql -rrur dLl+.ruudï+ Hd+rJrrJrluv .--l- r-:.1

ol 1uãqt èìeÌ e.\\ ,(sp1ng Ípoq acnpord or Ílrcedtl s..\\olleLu aql Pue 'raqlou aql

pup lèqte.] eqlJo suorlnqllluoJ lPllueloLJÌP eql) sesluald asaqr Surldacce eJuo tl'aurI IPurè]P(u eql ul srolseJue elPLu slqjo lelll Íq.'raq Puoíeq

pup 'rêqtotu sltl .+o Poolq aqf Íq Pâlnltlsuol "r\orleLu auoq u'\\o sIq uI ÀeP lel.]e ̂PP

'poolq pacnpord oslp sPLl rlèqleJ srtl tuo{ Poolq.to lueu'\\oPuê lerllut uP PeÀIeJâlSur.req 'oq,\\ lèqte1 u,\\o req tuo{ Poolq slIroLIuI uetuo.\\ V 'lle-tJe s.ueLu e sulPLuel

sÍe,r,r1e srqt:u^\o rreqlJo Surqtaruos ltulsuell ueuIo.\\ êql lPtìl Sutuear-u sP uJìtl

tcnv u3l-L d3H

f- ìfttr

SÉMÉN AND BLOOD

Yetanot l . rer i Ì ìusionmustalsobesetasic le 'TheU"-t"11:. : : ra inor is inat inginthePaternaÌ l ineisul ,o. . . , -poun<l,subject totheSameregressivePatternasthosecnclo."r.ment, ahoa .o*1" ì-- an. maternal ancestors' A man's blood is also rene\\:ed

cluring his l i fètime ,n..r*ï,n" marrow oii ' i , uor-r.r, * 'hich derives Írom his moth-

er,s bloocl, ancl s. o,,r. ìnìr, *.hat this theo^, expressesJ in a social context *'here

<lescenttracecl intheagnat ic l inetakes'p, . . "a"n." , is thatthisphenomenonrel iesmore on "speech" ntttt" on bloocl relationthips' insoÍar as it ' is basecì on the com-

mon $'i l l ",-t. l pttblitìt i""t"t"U*-ent of the social l ink' As the Samo are wont to

sar ' : . . \ \ rorc lsmakeclcscent,an( l ' ,o. . l .cantakei tback' ' 'Thisqui teexpl ic i tmaxim,,r.i o." bearing is stronglv implemente,l bv th" genetic theor.v of blood' allou's us

t. single our rhe ,uti"i, 'points f-or this pá.ti.ttüt societv: the indi' iclual exists as

such onlv in the tl iversitv of blooci l ines; ancl social clescent is traced less through

transmission b" L'ltJ ;;:."h'ot'gh'pt*.,rt' "' tr* to-''-'n'-t rvill 'oiced

and aflìrmed

bvt l resocialgroup.ob.. io. . , l ' ' , . " . l . ,n,- ' .oÍ . theseimportantpoints lvouldbeotaraclicallv rl i l lèrent

-.;;; ' i '- '-u ro.i.r" that' Íor exampÌe' ga'e preference to consan-

-"'ï;::::::lìi::::::ì:::ï."ï"ïarricurar parh amons the several that concur

in the acìr,enr of an iJu,nr", composed ;; nJ, bones onã blootl' it is also explic-

i t l r 'c ]e l . i r rccl t l - r rotrghthecommunalpartakingoi Íbocl insidethel ineage.Groupeat-ing is rnarkea o.,, ir,'riit-'.'uette bv p.ohi1,ltio'rï peculiar to each group; fbod generates

anclrcnelr .snotonlr . thef- ]eslrc l f ' thei , - ,d i" i . I . 'o l ,butalsohisbonesancl theirpre-cious conte"t, * n,in'ìì ,.,r., *",1..u," Ot""nìcl semen' Lifê - rvhich' according

tcl thcSamoconceptualsclreme, isoneofthenineingreci ientsofmanor\ \ .oman-pervarìes the *.orlcl. Everv l iving .r.u,url ' ..,ì,,-,, u ou*ttle of it ' Lifè is conveved bv

thc bloocl througÌrout t l-,e bo,ìv. But i l ' ì1..h i ' l iabÌe to death ancl cleca\" l i Íè sti l Ì

eln<ìttrcs irr a subcluecì, clormant Ío,- i,-,,.1.ì" the bones ancl <ìisappears totallv onl,v

rvhen rhese are br.rrnecl - a fact,n"a.".rri"r.,..,n" iclea of u l iÍè-co'-"'tving bÌoocl

"'ï'il1:ï,':i:,::1ï:i1Ï:Ïï'Ïll' '"'brier ancrnecessariÌr' incomprete rbrm

ìúv clescript,"" ;;.;;;,s ro sÌro\v t.,or' lu .ot-,"rent, all-embracing scheme is built

r r .h ichenConlpassesinasingìeproposi t iona<]ef in i t ionoÍ ' theindiv ic lualandaconccPt ionotmaninsociet ' thatembracesboththesocial l inksamonghumanbeinss ancl thc narural $.orlcl. nror. .ouìl be saicl here about certain kev notions'

t6+

59t

'(ulnêsnuEraqìarU'q)t)nZ) r1e61'sluaredpueJã uoSoC;o rred e ]o uor+trrdêC

SEMÉN AND BLOOD

certain archaic themes, u 'h ich under l ie al l these theor ies, such as the contrast ing

pair ic ìent ical /<l i fhrent, l r ,h ich acts as an essent iaì c lassi Í ier in Samo thinking' The

not ional svstem constructecl bv the observer out of Parts oÍ speech and elements of

behavior is necessar i lv imperÍèct , in that i t can never be an ent i re lv c losed svstem'

lncleecl , Íôr the social actors themselves, i t is rarelv i1 'e l 'er g iven as a coherent dis-

course connecting ancì integrating in a meaningÍüÌ context all the saÌient points u'e

have ment ioned: the genet ic theon'oÍ 'bodv f- lu ic ls and that oi the Pcrson, the

theon'of a l l iance and descent, that of imputed po\\ 'ers ancl Í t r rces. But i t is a svs-

tem that funct ions onlv u.hen required, just i Ív ing as necessarv dai Ìv r i tes, prohibi-

t ions an<ì pract ices. Tò be sure, l rom a dialect ical Perspect ive, as a svstem i t is

not devoid of contracl ict ions.What has just been saicl should not be taken to mean that the an.rìr 'sis of anl' con-

ceptual scheme aÌu'avs rests upon the locaÌ theo6' concerning bodv fluids' or that

the rationaìe Íôr each act, u'hich Íunctioris u'hen required, aÌr'vavs derives logicallv

fiom this same conception oÍ'things. The structured ideational scheme, lr 'hich makes

sense ancl is evolr.ecl <ìi lferentÌr ' in each societr', is macle up of mutuallv clefinable

elcments. These add the constraint of ' their inevi table interact ion ancì reciprocaì

development to the basic constraint, \\ 'hich clerives from the obserl 'ation of those

natural phenomena that must be understood ancì thus expÌainecl - rather in the lr 'av

stackecl \\.eapons assume their cì-raracteristic shape onÌv because each n'eapon leans

upon al l the others.In the l ight oÍ the prececling, the grouncìs Íôr mv assumption - that the explana-

tory acuteness of such theor ies somet imes leads them to converge rv i th scient i f ic

knou'lecÌge because thev are deeplv rooted in careÍüÌ obsen'ations of human anatomv

ancÌ phvsiolog,V - ma), seem clearer. Thus, for instance, the bone marrotl"s hemato-

poietic function is recognizecl, even if the actual process remains unknolvn an<ì

unclescribecl, ancl even if 'no clistinction is drau'n bet*-een bone marro\\- ancl spinal

marrow. Liker,,. ise, the idea of a progressive obÌiteration of some ancestors' contri-

but ions, calcr-r latecl in terms of their increasing genealogical remoteness through

\\.omen, tall ies in one sense r,r. ith the scientif ic notion of recessivitv. The marriage

prohibi t ions obtaining among the Samo betu'een indiv iduals carrv ing part ic les of

the same bÌoocl are not based on eugenics - that is, on the necessitv of preventing

the possible transmission oÍ'consanguineous taints. \\ 'e are deaÌing here instead r'r ' i th

l6b

L9r

'srurllrs Í;oreueldxo Jsrql.Jo rsrr.Ì Jrll .i1uo araq rãprsuor lleLJs r,,\\ 's8uracl lernleuredns .iq po.rrorsaq

sllri a:e.ilqt.ro lueru,iq p;l1se8ur ro -(poq àql ãprsul tuesald (pecrle s:lluetsqns uor.l a,trrep Íeqr

:sèruàr{l urprlr o.\\l ol Surp:orcr pJr-JrssplJ Jq urr poolq pue ru.rrcls.lo urõr:o atll-1o slrroa{ì ètlf:1:

eltotsrrv 'sloruruy {o uo4otauag pêllrtuê rsrleãrt oqf ul 'seulI lPuorlel Suole PerePlouêeq e,\PLl slJe.] elqP^lesqo Jo uorlPurqtuoJ eqt LIrrr{.r\ ur slxel'lqSnoqr nPulHpup ìâer3 ur Ílqefou 'suorlrperl uellJJ.\\ 1ear3 aqt ur (le,\e,\\o{-{ '1stxa op 3rèql

'ld{33 lueÌJue.}o espr aql ur èas lleqs e.\\ se 'poltulLunlll pue PêIPI-odellxe'petelosr èq tsntu sèlell'Íe,u tpLll suoÌtrun1 ètuãrlJs leuolleãpl ,{;e,La acur5'LuJql JlelnLuroj ol lla-J Sulaq peeu oqt tnoqll,\\ 'uotltralerd iq 'are.n ll se 'uollJuntÍaqr rtqr Í11ernleu os'íq aqrearq pue a,rr1 aldoad esoq] ãre spepl leluètuppun1 tsotucrll 'rè^oolow 'eas ol pã.\\olÌp ro elqP sP.\\ roqlne aql leq-t\ Íldrurs sI uodèl rrqde.rS-ouqlc up lprlt .\\ouì e \ 'Surssrtu aq Íeu seseJ ]ueuruèd PuP 'ãlqeltP^e elPP eql ãsnlsnu ìoollno a,rtleredtuor èq] lnq 'sãldlupxã LIJns lJLllo iutLu ale ilq€qold èrãtlf'e8pe1.tou1 crqde.rSouqla irerodruatuof,-jo ued ãrr sreqlo eIlq.\\'etul] ut ureql uror]oloLuèl ère (selnlInJ ulà]sà^\ ol rpèu,(1Fuorlezr1r.\Ìr elrq.\\'qcrq.rt-1o etuos 'sêsPl 't\eje.to srsecì ârll uo Jr ãurLLrPxa puP :,.'Poolq Pue Pãe s,/^\ollPru,./PooJ '.(la,trsueqarduocèroru lo '.poolq/pèês/ouoq eruànbes èql lurod ltl]ual p se ãìpl 11r.$ 1 rige gq ^\oqs olèì![ ,\\ou plnoqs I - ,,xPdPq,, P - e]uPlsul ênbrun P tou st ,iroeql otues èql leqf

'serrads aL[].]o elnlJnrls eql o]uÌ lllnq salnleãJ

lel8olorsiqd urelrec iq paureproaro-1 ear8ep euros ol ploLu e uI lsPJ sI lI ueq.\\ sP

In-IsserJns se te^eu sr Sur.rtouoq qJns leql serldur í18uo.rrs ssalèqìre,\Ju'suotltpuocelqpeleed tepun spepl .Jo uorsnLtrp Surqrear-.rej JLll pue '8ur.$oIoq IPnlnu.]o eJuel-srxê ãql epnlrxe Ílarnlosqe tou sêop lr .Ir

(e.\rlJèdsrad srql 'uorleue^ luecr3ru8lsSr\oL[s ãruèr{Js lernllnc r{fns r-lrPè ur PaPn[Jur s]ueLuêle esle^IP èLIì.Jo a3e1ur1 aqr

.Jr ue^ã 'slurod asrceld uÌeUèJ uo uorqsp,J âlqeìreuer p ur èprJulor 'sqrode luara-]JlPte pue saceld tuela]-ïlp ur iiltuopuadapur alrnb pãleroqelo sêuoãql Íroleueldxa leqtsupour - Ípoq ueunq êqlJo Suruorlcun-1 aql - elep elqe^rãsqo eures eql ut slslsuoi)lureltsuol lecrsÍqd [Pr]rur eqt lrrll lreJ aq1 'uortdunsst Puorrs e aPPLu è^eq I

'rèqloup ot Ípoq ãuo urorj pelltlusuPll eq ol PoolslePun sI oldrcur.rd 8ur-lepunrêJ e 'ãroru sÌ teq^A 'slotre-] crlo8.(zouoq.lo Surg3nqsar crlauaS p.Jo eepl èqlqlÌ.\\ lnJuoJ ,llteau suonrqrqord èsèql ',irrluapl .lo teql upr{l reqler eruela{IpJo eldIJ-uud aql ot poprorrp 'uretuop Íre,ra ur J^rlfp 'a8a1r,rr-rd lecr8oloapl lplueuppunl e

:C'V A: A Uf H 3SIOSNVè:

SEMÊN AND BLOOD

expounds admirablv upon a ser ies of 'processes of a biochemical nature, u ' i thout

reclr.rir ing that substances pass through the bones. Iìere, blood, milk and sperm are

resic lues (sperm being the onlv perÍèct residue) oÍ ' the t ransÍè ' rmat ion of Í tod inside

the bodr,. The prooÍ is in "the Íèeling o1'n'eakness r,r 'hich loÌlou's upon the slightest

emission oÍ 'sperm, as i f the bodv u'ere i ìepr iverÌ of the end prodrrct oÍ 'nutr i t ion"(1.18, 725a5; author 's t rans.) . The process involves the t ransformat ion of food into

blood, and thereaÍÌer - as a result oÍ' dir.erse processing proceclures according to

sex - into seed bv males and milk bv Íèmales. Ì\ ' lan pro<1uces sperm because his is a

\\.arm nature, such that he possesses a capacitv fb,r bringing about an intense con-

coction of the bloocl, *'hich translorms it into its purest and tl-rickest resiclue: sperm'

or male seed. \Von.ren cannot perÍorm this operation. Thev lose bÌood, and at their

\\ 'armest, ther.can onlr, succeecÌ in turning it into miÌk. "Because menses occur, there

can be no sperm" (1.19.127a30). Thus, the uÌ t imate di Í ïèrence betu.een the sexes

ìies in the Íact that one is vvarm and clrv, the other coÌd and w'et, qualit ies that reveaÌ

themselves in their aptitude or inaptitude Íbr achieving concoction." We nou,' have a

<louble t ransÍormat ionaÌ sequence: Íbod/blood/ 'sperm, Íbod/bloodZmilk, n 'h ich

oÍ'Íers a rationalization of the production of'Í luids as a u'hole, and above all, orders

them hierarchical lv in terms of a dist inct ion estabÌ ished betr , r 'een the sexes that

produce them - a cì ist inct ion presented as the ul t imate rat ionale and just i f icat ion

of the social order. This same distinction, fbrmulated in hìerarchically ordered con-

trasting terms, necessarv to the understancling of the inner lr 'orkings of fÌuid pro-

duction as propounded br: Aristotìe, is aÌso to be found in conceptual svstems in

uhich the male seed ìs not necessar i lv thought of as the ul t imate stage of b lood

heating or concoction. We have noted it aÌreadv among the Samo.In the tl indu 1'orld, as rvell, semen is considered to originate from fètod, but

the sequence is completecl u'ithout passage through the blood. But here u'e are deal-

ing less u.' i th an analvsis of processes of a someu'hat biochemicaì nature (as in the

case of Ar istot Ìe) than ni th u 'hat is, str ict lv speaking, a cosmic v is ion rvhich inte-

grates all the elements of the universe into a never-enrìing cvcle. Some upani;ad-srvritten beÍbrre 1200 e.c. cìescribe a perfect circle: "From rvater earth, f iom earth

herbs, Í iom grass Ít,od, from fbod semen, Írom semen man. Man thus consists of

the essence of'fbod" (Tãitt ir i,va Upanisad 2.1; in Kesrvani 1962:210-11). Cremationis then conceiverì of 'as a necessi tv: the bodv consumed bv f ì re r ises up in smoke,

I

r68

69t

yedrueq.rnssy,snql .reyoul p ur tsnp ol pepunod eo1 paqsrnbup.\ sltl-Jo sauoq eql set{

oq,u u8rare^os èr,lì Íq parcrllur 6lle.to êlqlllet lsotu eql 'luètuLlsrund rual.totulsodp ur uorlpulullnr slt spul.l letll ãtp1 P sÌ s]seJq plrr iq dn punol8 sèuoq s,euo è.\eq

of .\oleg-u,u,oq dnori Í11ue3 ltêrltJo sltrrds rllt LIIII\ Sururof.1o alqederur 'slsoq8Sur;epue,t eruoreq paltnqun uteluâl lpt{l PeàP aLlI 'sruoq s,auo dn purr8 11r,u oq,rt

stseeq pll.\\ ol Íard 11e.1 pue aceld ololuèr eLuos ut àlP ol sI ltê-J alqrssod ]sãleel8eqf 'uePPrLl sell e.Ill Llllt{^\ uI seuoq esoql .Jo IetlâleLu ,\\el eql sI Poolq 'snqf

JJuJìslxà.lo Luro.l .\\àu r: urrB ol PtJl) JLll

-ro1 alqrssod lI èìetu iaqr 'pa,uerur pue .roqla8or paraqre8 ere Íaql PoPl,\o-Id 'tlleêlq

eqt pup èlqnop IptreleluLuI ètl] rpeq PuP rlqeJnP;ed are - uery lslll JLll lo.l 'Poolq

eurÂrp.Jo - poolq-to lno ãPeuj sãuoq ãsrql 'nlulasa aq] 'sruoq ãq] :uollnlosstP sPuPls

-qtr,rt l.red leqloup lng 'tsnp ot sulnler lsnP tuotJ sâtuoJ lrql 8ulèq rlât1l -{o rred leql

'erp uaru ueq6'(SSt,ZgOt ursspJ) ..Buraq ueunq e llerr Pue uolelãìs e Pllnq o]

rapro ur poolq ereln8eoJ ot ]up.\\ L, :uew lstÌl rql .lo àlnlJnlls,iuoq eql Pe[êPotu aq

poolq srqr jo ]nO 'poolq s.n8ur;q pog Surreln8eoc iq rq8udn lês ìnPrew PoD leqlrelp,!\ pup ]snp.Jo erlìlxltu € tuor-J PèleelJ se.\\ uetll'sueÍJetuns êql ol Burp-rorry

'peep ãLlt pue 8ur'rr1 eql uèa.\\lãq ìuII eql sueìoleq ecuasald

len]cp Jrcql esneJeq lo 'Jè].]eèleq ãql uI Ie^L\lt-tS Jlaql .lo -\\èI^ ut laqtlè'seuoq íSIOJ-sêtup eql lo uoÌt€^reseld lerSelut aqt:afrsoddo eqt elrnb lnq'uotlPtuarr q8norql

alcÍc a1r1 èql olur uèuresJo lueLulse^uÌer JrLusoJ el{l lou sI slelleLu leq.\\'seseJ q}oq

ul .suoÌ]€zrp,rrc uerld,(8ã pue ueÌteurns el{l ul puno.J sI'poolq aL[]-Jo Surssarord 8ur

-^lo^ur èJuenbas íue ]noqlt,n'sauoq aql ur ie,u.e Pèlols uèLuãs.lo PePÌ etues eqI'JIf.\J ell[ ]Palõ eql

ol ue^ãr o1 tr Sur,rtollP 'lI sãleleqlI uolleuràlJ'sruoq rql ul .ie,1e parols sr (a'roqe

peqrlJsêp se pacnpo.rd'ueLuâs ãurueeu)ê.iII teql ÍSrrads slxel-Jo lequnu uteuãJ

V'(18:2861 Írre6) slprulue Íq paunsuor sI lo Í1a-rrlue sê,\lossÌP âJuelsqns lleql,]uaLuale lpql ul 'ptn - alu -Jo iruouttue ,ira,l aql se sPuPls leql lueluèla èql olul

pa8unld 'sr teqt - sa8ue3 aql ur iyyercedsa 'pas.rauurl ere iaql 'e1:-ir àJI[ è[oll'\\ èLl]

ruor.i ̂\erpqlr.\\ ot qslt\ ot{.\\ '(spoq9y) slJes rIlaJSP uleuer.Jo srãquretu aql lol esec

Jqt oslt sl sjql 'a1cÍc leuorteLulo.Jsuett aloLl.\\ aql lnoq8norql s8uraq 8ut'nr1 o1 8ur

-LunìJr Luo{ ssJull! .rroqt tua.re.rd oì supJLu Ìr sp pàÌpLLlJl)un Uèl alr (qrns PUP sulllJt.\

xodllerus 'sradal) peep peseeslp uteurJ 'uelues Pue PooÌ 'slue1d.]o uotlJnPord aqr

roJ Iros aql Surzrptre.I 'qupa aqr uodn ìleq IIPJ leql sPnolf, Íuter olut suln] qclq'\\

f C.V U: I Uf I f S OC\VUI

SEMEN AND BLOOD

fbrcecl the vanquishe<ì sons of an enemv dea<ì for over ten vears to grind the disin-

terred remains of their Íather. Bv so cloing' he n'as forcing them to cut oÍï ' their roots

u.ith their ou'n hancls, ancl thus to achieve their ou'n clestruction bv destroving the

Íôunclation of their Íamilv stock. Proviclecì thev are properlv treatecl, "the bones Ìive

on and remain attachecl bv a kincl of umbilical cord to the localized Íàmilv or to

the ethnic group," $.r i res Elena cassin (1982:360). The kings are wel l arvare of the

bones'reìat ion to the ent i re stock. Thus, lve take note of those n'ho la i<Ì rvaste the

to\\.ns an<ì deported the bones oÍ'their kings, as clid victorious Assurbanipal at Susa;

or, u,hen clefèatecl, chose, as <ìicl Merodach-Baìadam, king of BabvÌon, to l lee $'ith

the rentains oÍ his ancestors, rather than save the l iving members of his famill" Bv

clestroying the bones oÍ'the vanquishe<ì, the victors destrov their historr', both past

ancl lüture, because u'hat is clestroved in the act is their verY seed' The living are

the Írui t of their ancestors ' seecì, hence, the seed oÍ ' the l iv ing is destroved n'hen

thosc of the cleacl suffer such a Íàte. In the to,-,., l ie the principle of uninterrupted

transmission oÍ ' l i Íê. From this analysis, we mav der ive ane\\ 'sequence in u 'h ich the

terms oÍ'tÌre triÌogv are paire<ì oÍÏ cìifÍerentlv: from the bÌoocl proceed the bones,

u'hich contain semen and ì i fè.In Egvpt, not onlv is the source of aÌl l i fe found in that metaphorical version;

q,,ritc erplicith,, it ir r"-"n itselÍ ' that is lbuncì in the bones. Recent research reveals

the existence of an ancient anatomical explanato6' svstem, one Ít 'unded on precise

r.eter inarv knou. ledge, alongside the metaphvsico-rel ig ious interpretat ion, u 'h ich

calls fbr the intervention of ihe gocls in the init iaì process ot'creating seminal f luids'

The lacts unearthecl bv the scholars reacl l ike a detective storr'.

In 1960 Serge Sauneron clecipherecl inscriptions clating back to the Ptolemaic era,

in \ \ .h ich homage is paic l to the Ram \ \ 'ho "pOurs," "sol id i f ies," "concreates" ',,coagulates" semen in the bones. \Ve are cìealing here u'ith the belieÍ in the super-

natural origin of semen. For Sauneron, these terms convev a verv uncommon ana-

tomical bel ief 'of recent or ig in. Fincl ing s imiÌar bel ieÍ ì in Greek texts ("Semen is a

clef luxion, a gent le outf lowing of the spinal bone" ' t t ' r i tes Plato) ' Sauneron seeks

to exnlain in cliÍ lusionist terms g'hich of these tg'o cultures, Greek or Egvptian' had

invente<ì this strange anatomical theorr'.

Jean Yovotte (1962), u'hile ascribing the

a simi lar ' . rnalrs is, not ing th.r t lccording totheorv to a Íãr more distant past' makes

the pr icsts ol the Louer Per iod, a l ìnc-

t70

TLI

Suop.rcque3 pup requq Surpeocord Íq Ípoq rq1 xel sPueueP lenxes leql 'iP^\ aql 8ur

-qllrsèp su,\\ uelu srLll 'lJpt ul 'ìJêu aql ur urtd lelel llls pue 'eqre>peq lt.raue8 r urql,ìrpq rql-Jo llerus èrl] ut urrd r tlq lslrJ euo uoryaxrre.\o lenxes.Jo àser ut ]eql

peureldxa oq,rt'pleS Luorj ìooJ e',rlred srq.ro rrqr.uJru uer1d.i33 uP 'ãrol uraPolu ÍoèJuetsul snolrnr e se 'salonb eq 'le^e.\\oq 'èlouloo.l e ul '( l(.:(9ol Jllo.ioÀ) ruoq P

se ÍllecrroqdeleLu pâ.\\èr,,, sr snllcqd pasre-rdn èql esnelãq,i1uo aq PIno'!\ ll -\\èI'\ sILl

ut .sàuoq èLlÌ àptsu! uàLurs lo ìlpì \l\àt PuP ruolldt;rsut àLlì ll 'ruoq t Lllt.\\ snlltqd

posrerdn rr{f .Ìo oslp tnq'sêruptsqns Í4n13 Pue allq-\\ sP LUIêds Pue,\\o.lJPuI-1o.i1uo louuorlerrJtlurpl eLl] lot .\\ollp lpLll suotle^resqo IPL\tll .Ìo slseq êql uo 'Butuoseal 1er-rSopue ruol.J speeJo;d pue'.\\èI^-Jo lulod lPruoqdtratu e,(1uo sassardxa.tellJq slql,a11oÍo1 Joj .sèuoq èql ur uêuras sãleJol pur uuâds ol .\\olleLu sâlelILuISSt leq].telIeqp ro.J - punorSlceq êql pup - spunor8 èqÌ uoltsenb sloLllne o'\\l esãql reqr Í1leruep

-rcur í1uo sr 1; 'ut8tlo uerldÍ83 ut.Jo lo'\e-t uI uolounes Íq pasre.r ualqo.rd cr.lrcads

rLì | Jllìrs ol srsooLlJ aq'attt-,.io1 rol s\"JJlnos uoLuLuoJ c lo uotldtunssr ìsluols

-n-rJlp eqt pte.\\ol seurlJur êq 'ssãlãt-lua.te5 '('suP-Il s.loqlnv ILZ-92t0961) ,,acue-.reeclcle ut SetlIIpltuIts eulos è.\eq qJtL{.\\ sèJuelsqt-ÌS o.\\l elellrulsse o1 Íruapuel lelnlPup ol 8ur.to,, 'routw ptsv ut pue ldÍ33 ur ,(lfuapuadãPul uesllP a,req Íeu uotldêruof

ètues èLll tpLlt rtpInìsod o] a]eutrr8al eq lq8rru lI leLll Surssed uI slJeLJãl uêql àH

'uerretuns uI (.uotJeârJord,, pue.luolldêluol,,,,'tuleds,,,,'Jèle-\\,, oP seruetldÍi1 ur

loor eurÌrs aql Luol:l Luels.(P^tlPs,, Pue,.uêLuâs,,.('lãlP.u,, sL)ro,\\ eLIl leLIl Pue'eiII.Joarrnos eqt sp lètp,\\ a,tr8 s..1arlaq lueIJuP.tle.r atuos 1et{l seÀresQo (Oqgt) uorèunes

'seuoq eqt seleãrruoJ tlrlt-1.\\ Pêès lPuroled eql .iq palnpold rlP Llloq Put 'sauoq aql

qtr.\\ pelerJosse snq] e.re ,\\ol.reur Pue Poolq s,PILÌJ eql 'leq]oLu eql (uol.l PeeJorclqse [t èq] put te-l aql e[Iq,\\ 'sprng ltulLurs leuraled êq] Luolt 8ur'r'trep sP '!\orrtLu ètl]

pup poolq eq]-Io sì[p] ãq'snloH.1o Sut.raqruetusiP eql uo slurururof, qJletnld uêtì^\

'eletuèJ âr{] ot qseLt rt.[] pup aldrcuud elPlu aql ol sauoq êLIl àqllrsP 'smÍde; rel{lltunf

èLll ur papunodxa Luoql pur-J e^\ se qJns 'uoqcnpordèl .]o sãIloeqr uerrdÍ8E aq1'qulo.\\ eql eP]sul sãuoq olut ulPSP .,JIPUJuoJ.ì

ot snlleqd rql .to tno sr\ol] lPqt .\\otretu eql .]o rolrallor -Jo àlor eql '(e1d uoqr

plno,\\ utunlor purds eq1 'raqlaBol paurof ..ìJPq êL{] pur snlltqd êq1,, Íq Pêln}IÌsuorue8ro ue Suraq se ,,'roltua8ord,, eql TPIIPIIua8 alaldruoc eL[] suolluãtu f xaf lecrqder8-oa8 nolpl èql 'Ìle1.Io re]tetu e sy 'aurds eLIl Pue snlleqd eql ueâ'\\leq ''(lasrcardèloLu ro - ìceq rql pue snlleqd èql uer^\leq PèlsIXe e,\PLl ol Luees Plno';\\ ìutl leuoll

=e nv d3r-LÌulH :S OcNVèi

SEMEN AND BLOOD

thc spinal column, in exact lv the manner oÍ ' the Samo, nho ident i Ív sexuaÌ inter-course resulting in impregnation bv this specificallv mascuìine pain - prooÍ, if needbe, of the maximal drainage of semen from the bones.

Recent American l iterature on the subject (Schu'abe et al. 1982), r,r ' i thout disre-garcÌ ing the di Í lusionist assumptions, carrv us st i Ì l fàr ther back in t ime. Accordingto these authors (r,r.ho aim to demonstrate that the sign ankh, the symbol ft,r l i fe,must be identilìed r'r ' i th a bovine thoracic vertebra), the idea that semen is producedand stored aw.av in the bones can be found in l inguistic and iconographic evidencedating back to the First Dynastv. The specific relationship betrveen the spinal coÌ-umn and the phallus, as noted bv Yovotte, u'ould be based on observations of ananatomical pecul iar i tv oÍ ' the bul l 's geni ta l ia made dur ing sacr i f ic iaÌ d issect ionsreported in veterinary r,r.rit ings (such as the Kahun Papvrus). The Egvptians espe-ciallv admired and emuÌatecÌ bulls for their Ì ibido, strength and bravery. We knorvthat the bulì 's sexual potencv is explicit ly'associated rvith that of the pharaoh, u'ho\\.ore a bull 's taiÌ attached to his cÌothing. The reÌevant anatomical detail is as fol-lolvs: the buÌl 's penis tautens through the action of a muscle adhering firmlv to theinner surÍàce of the last trvo vertebrae above the tail; this muscle acts jointly u'iththe penis Íôr about ten centimeters. The Egvptian anatomists may rvell have vie'rvedthis apparatus as a single organ. This specif ic trait is also to be found in other mam-mals, such as rams, s' lr ' ine ancl dogs.

Thus, knor.vledge of an anatomical peculiaritv in animaÌs rvas alreadv being usedin the First Dvnastv to corroborate essential beliefs that cement the whole of theEgvptian ideoÌogical svstem. As Schr.r,abe et al. sav: "lt u.ould appear that this aÌbeiterroneous physioÌogic cycle represents the earliest knor,vn instance of the acquisi-t ion through comparative biologicaÌ observations an<ì analogical surmises of'a theo-retical basis Íbr understanding a bodilv process" (19822462).

As Yovotte sau', the connection postulated betr,r.een the penis and the spinal col-umn forms an integral part of the theorv that semen is contained in the bones. Itprovides the missing Ì ìnk. The semen-marrow concreates the skeleton and theblood of the child, u.hose bones in turn store awav the semen. (But do thev producei t? What role is pÌaved bv the blood?) Once stored in the bones, the semen is col-lected bv the spine and passes into the penis to rvhich i t is at tached. Seen Í iomthis perspect ive, lve can understand better the urgent necessi tv of gather ing the

172

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ì

:cnv u: .L d3H 3s oÒf'lvul

SÉMEN AND BLOOD

inthcSame\\ 'avhar.ereachet l thelsanreconclusion:SPermanc]marrou.areof. thesamenatureanclcontainthegermof l i fè,storedau.al . l ikekernels,andjealouslvprorecter l in t 'e n. . , r - f " . , r . f ìn" boar. .af ter a l l , rn"

"r . cìeal ing here * ' i th rat ional

interpretatio,.r, .or]...Ir"c1 from clirect Íàctuaì observation, the most perfect being

theEgvpt ianmoclel .Sementhathastobeconstant lvrenerr .edmustbestoredarr .avsomen'here insicle the boclvl the tightlv sealecl bone capsules are the ideal place for

it. At the core of the belieÍ' u'hat u-e Íincl is matter'

ï:ï,::ï"ïï ,uriu, oy 1nunr1s. .rranslatccr bv À.r . peck. London anrr cambridge, N'rA: Loeb classi-

,"r:: i::ï:1"Ï1.10".,0"'t i 'e pour cleur passases: Notcs sur la rcprósentation traditionnelle cle la

naissance et c le l ' r Ì ì ror t r :n Polvni 's ie, ' ' L 'Honín' te 23'3 (Julv-Serpte mber 1983) '

Cassi t l , t ' . , . .La rnort : \ ' .a leur et représentat ion cn N' lésclpotamie ancienne,, ' tn La ' \ Ior t , ]es morts dans

/cssoci i Í isancicnnes'L 'c l i tcc lbrCì.Gnol iandj . -P\ ,ernant.Par is.rnclCambri<ìgc:CambridgeUni-

,,.;::ì:ì,:::] ' ; i ,ï ir,. dcs tcchniqucs,2 r.oìs. paris: Ecrit ions crc r'Àccueir, 1e64. (See cspcciaÌlv'

. .Extr t \ r . r - re.Orient, , , in ' | Iót lccine' I Ì l Ìuarcl an<ì Nl . \ \bng, pp.6t0-14).

( ìa l in ier ,J. ,"L 'hon'rmesanspic<ì 'N1ôtaphorcdclacastrar ionimaginaireenì\ iésoamériqucl ' ' l ' iJomme

2'1. r ' ro. I (ÀPri l -June 198' l ) '

Hanclv,F.C.S.,Pr i l ) r tasinnRcl i r l ron' l lonoÌulu:Bavarcl l )ominickErpccl i t ion'1927'

l ler i t ier ,F. , . .L, i r lcnt i téSamo,, , inI ' ' ident i té:Séminaìredir i | ]eParClaudeLól , i .Strr luss.Par is:Grasset,1977., .Fóc.ncl i tc ct stér i l i tc : L.a rraduct ion c lc ccs nor ions c lc Ia champ ideologique au stade pré-

scientì Í iquc," tn La fai t féminin ' Par is: Favard' 1978'

* ' i th Nlarc Àugc' "Le gónét iquer sauvagc'" I 'e genre humain l - ' t (1982) '

, ,str i r i l i té, ar ic l i té. sécheressc: euelqucs i .nur ion, , c le la pensee s 'mbol ique" ' in / -e Sens du ' l la l :

' lnthropolo<l ie,st lc io locl ia 'h istoire(]c]amaladic.Par is:Er l i t ionsc]elsArchir .esContemporaines, l98'1.

Kesrr ,ani ,N.H., . .ThcCclnceptsoÍ.Gcnerat ion,Reprocluct ion,Er,olut ionancìFIumanl)evclopmentas

Founcl intheWri t ingsol . lncl ian(t l inclu)Sclrolarsclur ingthcEarlvPer iocl(uptot200, l .o.)ot

rncl ianfr iston,, , , tsui let ìnof- the Nat iona1nst j túteof Sciences of India 21(r962) '

parrv, J. , . .Sacr i Í ic iaì l )eath ancl the Necrophagus Ascet ic" ' in Decrth and the Fe5lenarat ion oJ' I ' i fe ' Edtted'

bl M. Bloch ancl J ' Parrv ' Cambri t lge: Cambridge Universin Press' 1982'

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