• 'Mostly Aged Virgins': Philo and the Presence of the Therapeutrides at Lake Mareotis

    Author(s):
    Holger Szesnat (see profile)
    Date:
    1998
    Subject(s):
    Judaism--Post-exilic period (Judaism), Egypt
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Early Judaism
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/n15c-p397
    Abstract:
    Most scholars assume that Philo has a positive view of the female members of the community at Lake Mareotis which he describes in his De Vita Contemplativa. This article questions this from the perspective of Philo's attitude to «pretty slave boys» used for sexual purposes, to whom he ascribes the «female disease». Philo was forced to accomodate the Therapeutrides even though he did not approve of their presence in the community as such. He describes them as «mostly aged virgins» because his view of γυναικες (as opposed to παρθενοι) does not permit him to ascribe positive values to them.
    Metadata:
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    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. Date:
    1998
    Journal:
    Neotestamentica
    Volume:
    32
    Issue:
    1
    Page Range:
    191 - 201
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    3 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved

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