-1- Eunuchs and the Postgender Jesus: Matthew 19:12 and ...

post-pubescent males) the suspicion of penetration. 41 Martial, 42 Juvenal, 43 and
Theophrastus 44 report that eunuchs were favored by women, indeed even as marriage
partners, as a means by which they might achieve sexual satisfaction without fear of giving
birth. 45 Claudian hints at certain sexual intimacies that went on between eunuch and
mistress. 46 Jerome 47 and Tertullian 48 doubted castration bridled any passion in them. 49
Their suspicions are justifiable, insofar as accusations of adultery are reported, most
notably in the Life of Apollonius of Tyana. 50
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Additionally, the intimacy with which eunuchs were able to share in the world of
women made them vulnerable to other sexually inflammatory charges. Indeed, their role as
41 Note Terence, The Eunuch 642ff, where Dorus, a eunuch who has exchanged clothing with Chaerea, is
initially accused by Phaedria of raping Pamphilia. Pythias, however, responds with confusion, “Why, faith, I
had heard that they [eunuchs] were extremely fond of women, but were incapable; unfortunately what has
happened never came into my mind; otherwise I should have shut him up somewhere, and not have intrusted
the girl to him.”
42 Martial, Epigram iv.67, “Why does your Caelia have only eunuchs, Pannychus? Because she wants to
whore it up, but not give birth.” See also iii.81; vi.2, 21, 39, 67; x.91; xi.81.
43 Juvenal, Satyricon vi.366-367, suggests that women wait for the onset of puberty before sending their
servants to be castrated by barbers, so that they can be sexually useful without worry about pregnancy. Cf.
also i.22.
44 Hieronymus, Adversus Iovinianum i.47.
45 Tertullian, Ad Uxorem ii.8.4, “...mutilated for licentious purposes.”
46 Claudian, In Eutropium i.105-109.
47 Hieronymus, Letters cvii.11; cviii.20.
48 Tertullian, Adv. Marcionem i.29.
49 Basil of Ancyra in the fourth century On Virginity states, “It is said that those who, having attained virility
and the age when the genital member is capable of copulation, have cut off only their testicles, burn with
greater and less restrained desire for sexual union, and that not only do they feel this ardour, but that they
think they can defile any women they meet without risk.” Quote in Rouselle, Porneia, 123.
50 Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius i.33, 36.