The Oldest Known Illustration of Circumcision in 2400 B.C.

M0005235 Egypt, wall carving showing a circumcision scene, Sakkara

The origins of circumcision remain unclear, [but by] 4,000 B.C.E., exhumed Egyptian bodies show signs of circumcision.

[T]hen come the artistic depictions.

The Sakkara depiction comes with the perhaps helpful written warning, “Hold him and do not allow him to faint”.

The original bas-relief above has been recreated and colorized below:

Circumcision_Sakkara_3

Via Open Culture.

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I design video games for a living, write fiction, political theory and poetry for personal amusement, and train regularly in Western European 16th century swordwork. On frequent occasion I have been known to hunt for and explore abandoned graveyards, train tunnels and other interesting places wherever I may find them, but there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that I am preparing to set off a zombie apocalypse. Nothing that will stand up in court, at least. I use paranthesis with distressing frequency, have a deep passion for history, anthropology and sociological theory, and really, really, really hate mayonnaise. But I wash my hands after the writing. Promise.

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