Eunuch ???

Where did the Arabic word "Harem" originate? It sounds very similar to "haraam" - forbidden

Castrates lack testosterone, and so are not prone to agression or combativeness and were therefore seen as trustowrthy in the presence of the ruling class.

It was also felt that removing all worldly temptation from a male made him a better and more focused servant.

Originally posted by Mountain Man Castrates lack testosterone, and so are not prone to agression or combativeness and were therefore seen as trustowrthy in the presence of the ruling class. It was also felt that removing all worldly temptation from a male made him a better and more focused servant.

Nevertheless, some eunuchs became admirals and generals, most notably the 6th century Roman commander Narses

Originally posted by Nick1986 The chief eunuch of the Turkish sultan's harem was black as Africans were deemed more trustworthy than whites. The operation involved all external genitalia being swept away with a razor blade, a metal or bamboo tube stuck into the wound, and the patient being buried up to his neck in hot sand. Only 10 percent survived

I'm not surprised.  I would imagine that 90% of healthy people would die if treated that way.

The Chinese bound the wound up with rice paper and left it alone until it healed.  Most of the castrates survived.

Le Van Duyet, the warlord of Southern Vietnam during the early 1800s was not only a eunuch but the major reason that Gia Long succeeded to the title of Emperor. Duyet adopted two sons. When his tomb was desecrated on royal order as a form of post-mortem punishment, his adopted son Le Van Khoi led a revolt that lasted nearly five years and came close to toppling the Nguyen dynasty.

So the Vietnamese kings and emperors also employed eunuchs.