chastity

chastity

Before Christianity

Chastity was not recommended in classical Greek medicine before the physician Soranus (early 2nd cent. ad). In pagan religion, certain goddesses chose to remain virgins (e.g. Hestia/Vesta, Artemis/Diana) and some priestesses—not necessarily those serving virgin goddesses—remained life virgins (e.g. Artemis Hymnia in Arcadia, Pausanias 8. 13. 1) while others could only hold the position until the age of marriage (e.g. Poseidon at Calauria, Pausanias 2. 33. 3). They did not support their other human followers who emulated this behaviour (e.g. Euripides' Hippolytus).

In contrast to the Hippocratics (see medicine §4) who believed a girl must be ‘opened up’ for the sake of her health, Soranus recommended perpetual virginity as positively healthful for...

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