Cover Image:
The Babylonian Nommo (Oannes)
instructs the High Priests in sacred knowledge.
|
Ancient Origins of Jewish Ritual Circumcision
By R. D. Gray
© 2008
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven... Amen." - Excerpt from the misunderstood Lord's Prayer
Abstract Circumcision is a religious ritual practiced in ancient matriarchal societies. Its popularity was limited in the United States until the 20th century when medical professionals began to encourage the procedure. The claimed benefits have since been found questionable in nature and inconclusive, yet the community continues its support for the procedure unabated. As such, it appears that circumcision today is - at minimum - a sacrificial ritual performed by a proxy priesthood. This is done in a secular medical environment and is in accordance with ancient matriarchal beliefs that have been reincarnated in modern form.
Historical Background and Perspectives of Circumcision - Documented in Ancient Times
Circumcision is a surgical procedure proven to originate earlier than the second millennium before Christ. It is historically documented in stone at Saqqara, Egypt (ca. 2400 B. C.) [[1]] Mummies pre-dating Saqqara indicate occurrences of it as early as 4000 B. C. [[2]] Its true origins in place and time are still unknown and are widely disputed by historians and scholars. For example, Albert Churchward stated it to exist in Central America ca. 10000 B. C., having also originated from Egypt. [[3]] Gairdner cites a date as far back as 15000 B. C. [[4]]
- Biblical Origin This procedure is a cornerstone of modern Jewish religion. It is also recognized and accepted in both Christian and Islamic faith. The foundation of the procedure in these communities is their belief that circumcision is a part of a covenant between the god of Abraham, Abraham, and his descendants. [[5]] As shown by the history above, the ritual was documented before these religions were created. Therefore, it could only have been adopted within the religion as described by end of the sixth century BC.
- Nommo Found Globally Ritual circumcision has been found and documented extensively across Africa, in the Americas and in Pacific Aborigine tribes as well. Islamic influences were not responsible for its presence in all cases. These Afro-Asiatic communities do not necessarily parallel Western ideology or beliefs. In the case of the Dogon - a tribe in Africa whose priests are called Hogons - for example, Amma is believed to be the god supreme. Circumcision is a key part of Dogon religion as well. Here, however, it involves not only humans, but also an ancestor of humans - a giant fish-god, half-man half-fish, called Nommo. [[6]] A version of the Nommo's story was documented in Babylonian mythology by the character called Oannes. Oannes was half-human, half-fish and came from the sea each day to teach Babylonian priests how to write, grow crops, build houses as well as the sciences of mathematics and astronomy. [[7]]. Other versions of Nommo is found in Sumerian and Phyrigian religion also, in the form of the character called Agdistis. [[8]]
- Haskalah Origins in Germany In modern times the presence of circumcision was seen to coincide with the Haskalah movement of Jewry. Starting in the late 18th century Jews began to leave the ghetto or shetl lifestyle where they lived isolated amongst themselves. They began integrating into European society. Haskalah marked the beginning or exposure of Judaism with the secular world. [[9]] Events that occurred indicated that circumcision appeared to be on the decline as differences of opinions between Orthodox and Reform factions grew concerning such issues as ritual versus ethnic identity. A major issue surrounded extending the practice into the German culture and society by means of medical or health care. Ephron detailed how Jewish doctors promoted circumcision of gentiles using medical science as the background of their arguments. [[10]]
- Immigration Connection in USA In similar fashion to Germany, the history of circumcision in the United States today paralleled Jewish immigration and integration. Little debate or practice was seen with the early immigrants, as they were predominately from Western Europe and more culturally assimilated. A major shift was seen in the early 1900s with the arrival of more central and Eastern European Jews - Orthodox types - who still retained the more traditional perspective towards the ritual. [[11]] Since then the procedure has been encouraged and performed extensively since the early 20th century on millions of boys and men by various medical associations and independent doctors who claim various benefits from it. During the periods of the First and Second World Wars the number of circumcisions increased dramatically when the US Government performed an active campaign of circumcising American soldiers fighting in the European theaters against Germany. [[12]]
- Uncertain and Disputed Benefits Claims about the benefits from circumcision became widespread and exaggerated in 20th century United States. Phimosis - a simple constriction of the foreskin found in both males and females - was identified as a medical problem. Doctors sympathetic to the ritual procedure used it to justify the surgery. Circumcision, in curing phimosis for example, indirectly became a cure-all. Hodges summarized the extent of which. He noted it was not only a medical cure-all, but a psychological, social and moral one as well. "Rather than a symptom of disease, phimosis has been classified as a disease sui generis as well as a cause of disease, and as such, for nearly 200 years, presumably responsible physicians, writing in leading medical journals and textbooks, have further claimed that the results of their research `prove' that phimosis is the cause of such diseases as cancer of the male and female reproductive organs, venereal disease, malnutrition, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, insanity, idiocy, masturbation, heart disease, homosexuality, deafness, dumbness, urinary tract infections, criminality, and death, to name but a few. The drive to cure and prevent phimosis, thus, has been presented as a surgical solution to the most pressing social and moral problems." [[13]] [13] WORLD JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Volume 17, Number 3: Pages 133-136, June 1999, Phimosis in antiquity, Frederick M. Hodges - citing -
- Nature of African Ritual In Africa today the procedure is performed extensively. The Dogon tribe performs circumcision as a key sacrificial ritual in their culture - but not as a medical procedure. Common elements of Dogon cultural history and religion have led to theories that the Dogon culture originated in ancient Egypt during the time of the Pharaohs. Scranton, for one, covers the parallels between Dogon culture and the Egyptian religion of that era. [[14]] Their relative isolation in Africa has led to less cross culture contamination over the millennia. In this ancient matriarchal culture based on the womb, circumcision is seen in its original form - as a sacrificial religious ritual.
Ideological Perspectives and Background of Ritual Circumcision - Ancient Ritual Now Medical Procedure Today historians view circumcision as a surgical procedure originating in ancient Egypt, the purpose of which seemingly resists explanation. Some claim it originated for medical reasons such as minimizing diseases. We see in later history, however, it is recognized and accepted as a sacrificial ritual. In the Old Testament the Western origins of circumcision is in Genesis, Chapter 17 9-14. Cohen indicates that this chapter was written somewhere between the eighth and sixth century B.C. [[15]] Therefore, what had existed for supposedly unknown medical reasons in Egypt for more than a thousand years prior to the creation of Judaism in Egypt, was suddenly utilized in the Jewish religion as sacrificial ritual. Despite this contradiction of origins described by modern historians, the purpose of the procedure is clear as stated in chapter 17 of Genesis. It clearly was adapted and became a spiritual rite in the traditional orthodox perspective of Judaism. [15] Cohen, Why Aren't Jewish Women Circumcised?, p9.
- Claimed Patriarchal Oppression Convoluting this medical versus ritual origin by historians today, some liberal feminists attempt to identify male circumcision as a symbolic tool with the oppression of women by patriarchal culture. They view circumcision not only as a symbol of male bonding, but something associated with a catastrophic change in global history. For example, Pollack writes: "This shift from the goddess worshipping matrilineal non-hierarchical cultures to the god worshipping, patriarchal, dominance and violence-based culture was actually the nexus of a cataclysmic paradigm shift whose ripples continue to resonate throughout the fabric of our contemporary secular and religious cultures." [[16]] [16] Miriam Pollack from Jewish Women Speak Out, p. 171-185, Canopy Press 1995, cited from http://www.noharmm.org/pollack.htm .
- The Original "Pro-Choice" Ritual Although rightly viewed as a ritual used in patriarchal theology - and in part for the purpose of oppressing women in society - they nevertheless ignore the elements of Matriarchal worship they espouse. Amidst these resonating ripples, Nettleton in contrast considers the adoption of circumcision as an integral part of the evolution of Judaism. This evolution was not anti-feminist in nature or intent but was simply the adoption of new social values - it was the original concept or version of 'pro-life choice' by society towards its males. [[17]] "After the return from Exile, the practices that prevailed at the time of King Solomon and King Hiram of Tyre, who was a priest of Melkarth where child sacrifice was common, were no longer relevant. The new Jewish approach recognized the absurdity and cruelty of murdering able-bodied men. Annual male sacrifice became redundant with the cut of ritual circumcision of the male phallus. It was sufficient evidence of God’s Covenant with man."
- Castration Substitute
Likewise,
Nettleton also points out that in Genesis Zipporah used circumcision
as a substitute sacrifice in order to save her husband from the
requirement of castration. Complete castration was sometimes a
requirement in matriarchal religions such as the worship of Cybele
and others. The Matriarch who demanded the phallus was evidently
present in Pollack's own ancient Jewish religion at the time of
Moses. [18] Nettleton, Alchemy Key, p. 88.
- Ritual of Equality Griaule states that one reason for circumcision in the matriarchal Dogon tribe is the obligation of equality and fellowship between men and women. This includes the belief that men should suffer like women. [[19]] This follows a similar such statement stating the cut foreskin symbolized the pain of circumcision, the latter of which related to the need for man to suffer in sex as the female does. [[20]] These reasons - held in matriarchal theology still today - are hardly consistent with feminist theory.
- Female Equality Omitted In New Ideology Likewise, it is notable that Abusharaf indicates that Jews practiced female circumcision to some extent in the past while Ethiopian Jews did so until just recently. [[21]] With this in mind - the ancient nature of male circumcision together with the lingering practice of female circumcision by the Jewish cults - it raises the question to what degree the changes seen are due to the evolutionary nature of the religion itself. Apparently, both sexes were circumcised equally until the female ritual was phased out and the male ritual was adapted under the newer patriarchal ideology. [21] Rogaia Mustafa Abusharaf, Female Circumcision: Multicultural Perspectives, page 50
- Overview of the Evolution From this history it seems clear. Modern Judaism was created in Babylon during the 6th century B.C. captivity phase. There, matriarchal circumcision - an ancient matriarchal ritual of substitution and suffering - was adapted for a new role. It was reinvented and established as a required patriarchal ritual in the Torah as part of Judaism's new patriarchal perspective. In the centuries prior, the ritual was part of matriarchal ideology common to the Israelites and other Afro-Asiatic cultures. Judaism experienced a strong evolutionary period between the time of Soloman and captivity where outside ideas and beliefs were often adopted and incorporated. This evolutionary period followed other civilizations which were already patriarchal in nature e.g. Greece and Rome. In this evolution older ideas and rituals were reinvented and used in the new patriarchal order for new purposes.
- Common Ritual In All Perspectives Despite this period of evolution and change, patriarchal Judaism retained some elements of matriarchal worship. And Judaism still treated circumcision as a ritual instead of a medical procedure. Regardless of the dominant ideology - matriarchal or patriarchal - both systems of thought incorporated and utilized circumcision as a ritual. In matriarchal or genetrix worship, it was a substitute for the sacrificial ritual of complete castration. Sometimes it was a ritual of equality of the sexes as pointed out by Griaule above. In patriarchal Judaism circumcision became a ritual of rejection of the genetrix covenant. Feminist perspectives often overlook how circumcision was an integral part of matriarchal ideology long before it was a patriarchal creation.
Lunar Ideology In Greece and Rome - Lunar Religious Beliefs In Greek and Roman times Judaism was a small religion competing and conflicting with other religions, beliefs and practices. They could be collectively described as "lunar" in nature, as done by Julius Evola in his book Revolt of the Modern World. Geographically, these Afro-Asiatic practices were global in former times, more so than today. Their ideology varied but collectively related to the spiritual concepts of Mother Earth and Matriarchy. Time was calculated as a function of the moon's phases, as Jewish religion does today still. Another common concept was that the moon's rhythm was believed to be associated with female menstrual cycles. It connected with or affected sexual and other activities of life. Campion points out the moon's involvement in fertility was widely believed and accepted by rural communities and can be amply documented. [[22]]
- Cosmic Uterus Martriarchal cosmogenesis conceptualized the creation of the universe in some form of a cosmic egg or cosmic womb giving birth. This may have been an attempt by early man to explain the unknown based upon what he saw around him. In other words, he felt that cosmic genesis had to be similar to birth processes that occurred around him in his everyday life. From these ideas evolved genetrix worship, which then degraded in various different forms. More extreme and crude forms of female genital worship arose in time as society became more complex and interconnected. In the worship of Cybele for example, male priests practiced the extreme forms of genetrix worship including complete self-castration and sacred prostitution. In the environment of these beliefs, circumcision was practiced religiously, both literally and figuratively.
- Solar Religious Beliefs Other cultures, such as the Greeks and Romans, possessed solar and patriarchal ideology. Solar ideology conceptualized the sun as a god and the creation of the universe by solar gods. These elements were founded in general in Vedic astrological and astronomical expertise. Time was primarily based upon the sun and its seasons. Planets were observed and believed to influence life on Earth also. At the peak of their cultures, multiculturalism contributed to the degraded forms of worship that arose, including that related to the male organ or phallus. Despite the included reverence of phallic imagery in Greek and Roman cultures, it did not include circumcision as a ritual. In response to the matriarchal ritual in Roman society, the emperor Hadrian passed laws forbidding circumcision and castration as performed by these lunar religions in their practices. In short, patriarchal culture did not share the same perspective as the new patriarchal Jewish religion, which maintained its lunar roots.
- Rejection and Extremism
In contrast to the
effects Jewish and other matriarchal practices had on Roman culture,
the reverse was also seen as well. Roman culture paralleled Greek
regarding the foreskin. Hodges states that Greek culture regarded
the foreskin with esteem as a "defining feature of the male body." [[23]]
Neither did Romans aesthetically appreciate the image of the
circumcised phallus. Both Greeks and Romans valued the foreskin, the
latter passing several laws to protect it. [[24]]
When visibly marked as such, the circumcised did not fit into
society as well. As a result, ways were sought and found to minimize
the unappreciable image that resulted from the process. Efforts were
made and methods devised to appear not circumcised. One such method
was to wear a bronze weight on the residual foreskin, stretching it
back out. This was called a Judaium Pondum. [[25]]
[23] Frederick M. Hodges, Phimosis in antiquity, WORLD JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Volume 17, Number 3: Pages 133-136, June 1999
- Ritual in Greece & Rome Also In summary, we see again that historical events relative to circumcision in ancient Greece and Rome circa 140 A.D. reinforce the idea that circumcision was a religious ritual and not a surgical procedure performed for medical reasons. Laws regarding circumcision reflected religious objectives rather than medical ones or improvements in medicine. Victims of the laws made active efforts to reverse the results of the ritual procedure. With this confirmation in mind, we now turn to Jewish sources to justify or provide insight to the reasoning behind their covenant.
Moral, Spiritual and Sacrificial Reasoning - Spiritual Justification In Orthodox Judaism, moral and spiritual reasoning embellishes the ritual of circumcision. Pollack states that traditional Judaism views circumcision as a "spiritual rite." [[26]] Cohen notes that Pirqei de Rabbi Eleizer equated circumcision with sacrifice, in addition to the same viewpoint expressed by Leviticus 12 and certain midrashi collections. [[27]] [26] Miriam Pollack from Jewish Women Speak Out, p. 171-185, Canopy Press 1995, cited from http://www.noharmm.org/pollack.htm "Some secular Jews as well as fundamentalist Christians still justify circumcision as divinely inspired ritual of health care, even though, traditionally, Judaism has viewed circumcision as a spiritual rite."
-Maimonides Says Moral Perfection Objective Maimonides, the 12th century Jewish historian and rabbi, likewise offers to explain or justify ritual circumcision in terms of morality. He stated in his well-known and widely influential works, The Guide of the Perplexed (1190) that the objective of the circumcision commandment was moral perfection, and had nothing to do with congenital defects. [[28]] [28] Maimonides, The guide of the Perplexed (1190) - quote follows:
-Maimonides Says No Medical Objectives Therein Maimonides' explanation for the practice of circumcision cited correction of social problems, specifically violent concupiscence, lust and women's overcharged libidos. He further clarified that the main objective of the process is moral perfection and not congenital defects. This moral perfection is achieved through the pain acquired during the physical process. In other words, and simply put, spiritual moral perfection is achieved through physical pain. These reasons concern spiritual ideas and social issues and not medical or physical necessity.
- Medical Support For Ritual in Germany The "spiritual rite" role, as referred to by Pollack, has been at odds against the utilitarian procedure, but only since the 19th century when the medical institution started to justify the surgery for various reasons. Ephron detailed in his book how
German Jewish
medical doctors used medical science to develop
arguments to
defend and justify ritual circumcision, thus promoting the practice
amongst gentiles in the 19th and early 20th centuries. [[29]] [29] Medicine and The German Jews: A History by John M. Ephron.
- Medical Support For Ritual Migrates to USA This encouragement as already mentioned above, continued into U.S. in the 20th century, when medical professions and the national government began promoting it, circumcising millions in hospitals and in the military. Hitherto, it was viewed as ritual. In the Encyclopedia Britannica, 9th edition (1876), it not only refers to it as a religious rite but indirectly suggests it to be a substituted sacrificial rite, paralleling the view and points herein. "Like other bodily mutilations … [it is] of the nature of a representative sacrifice. … The principle of substitution was familiar to all ancient nations, and not least to the Israelites. … On this principle circumcision was an economical recognition of the divine ownership of human life, a part of the body being sacrificed to preserve the remainder.
- Cloaking the Ritual By the 11th edition, the basis of reasoning had been reversed and it was now referred to primarily as a medical procedure and secondarily as an initiation rite. "This surgical operation, which is commonly prescribed for purely medical reasons, is also an initiation or religious ceremony among Jews and Mahommedans"
- Best Explained by Global Presence Regarding the documented presence of circumcision almost globally - in Australian, Malay and Polynesian aboriginal tribes, in the Balkans, Asia Minor, Persian and India - the ritual perspective is omnipresent. Often ignored by researchers it is best explained by the simplest idea, i.e., a common ancestral religion or cosmogonic theory. In the future, when more comparative research of these groups has been performed, this may likely come to pass.
- Issue of Perception Versus Reality Hitherto, we see that arguments vary considerably regarding the practice, perception and reality of the issue. While the medical profession has claimed benefits to various diseases such as cancer, infections, and STDs, psychologists have claimed widespread psychological and social improvements from it. Feminists have criticized it as a symbol of oppression of women and matriarchy in some patriarchal new world order. Only a minority of researchers and historians support the observation that circumcision was always and still is an ancient sacrificial ritual of matriarchal origin, purpose and reasoning. With this in mind we turn to examining the Brit Milah procedure in more detail.
Bibliography (Not used as cited references in this article)
The Jewish Ritual - Orthodox and Reform Differences There are various forms of Jewish ritual circumcision today. Differences arose with the creation of the Reform and Conservative factions of Judaism around the 19th century, with the Reform movement declaring the strict procedure unnecessary at Frankfort in 1843. [[30]] Relaxation of the strict requirements permitted a new approach to the ordeal of civility Jews encountered in their new world outside the shetls and also allowed promotion of the ritual cloaked by secular modern medical associations. The work of Ephron in detailing how Jewish doctors in 19th-century Germany developed arguments to promote circumcision was mentioned above. Here we focus on orthodox aspects.
- Origin and Rules The Orthodox faction of Judaism still continues to operate in strict fashion according to the ancient laws written in the Torah and Talmud. In the Orthodox Jewish religion, the ritual is call the Brit Milah meaning "covenant of circumcision", and is referred to in many places in Jewish literature. [[31]] The primary references include Beresheit (Genesis) 17:4 -14. The covenant mandates that all Jews be circumcised on the 8th day after birth as well as all servants (Gentile slaves) who are "born in the house" or who is "bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants." [31] See: Yochanan 7:22-23; Acts 7:8; Romans 4:11; Galates 5:11; Philippians 3:5; Beresheet 17:13; Shemot 4:25-26; Jer 11:16
- Salvation Irrelevant It is clearly stated that the procedure is not related to the idea of salvation, which can only be acquired through the work of Yeshua. In their own words: "Circumcision and commandment found in the Torah teaching it is not the basis of Salvation. Circumcision of the flesh cannot save you. It is for the purpose to establish Avrahamic Covenant. Salvation by put your faith in the redemption work of Moshiach Yeshua alone." [[32]] [32]http://www.messianic-torah-truth-seeker.org/Fundamental/Circumcision/Hatafat-Dam-Brit-Brit-Milah.htm
- Importance of Circumcision Ritual Orthodoxy stresses the importance of the procedure and strictly defines the procedure to include three parts - Milah, Periah, and Metzitza. The latter of which was introduced by the Talmud in the 6th century A.D. [[33]] In the words of one Mohel (Ritual Circumciser) : "It is Equivalent to All the Mitzvot in the Torah. Milah is a great mitzvah because it is equal in importance to all the other commandments combined." [[34]]
. Moreover, the world seemingly would never have been created without it: "If it were not for the Milah, G-d Would Not Have Created the Heaven and the Earth. The Sages say, Great is Brit Milah, for were it not for Brit Milah, heaven and earth would not have endured, as it is written, "Were it not for My Covenant, I would not have created day and night, the laws of heaven and earth." (Jeremiah/Yirmiyahu 33:25) (Talmud Shabbat 137b) " [[35]]
- Strict Requirements Regarding the three parts, Milah, Periah, and Metzitza, Milah refers in general to a 'revealing' by cutting. A warm fuzzy feeling might be best acquired from their own words concerning the procedure and the importance placed upon it : "The proper way to perform the Mitzvah of Milah is to cut the foreskin with an iron knife and afterwards to separate the skin of the Periah with the nails and to pull it back to this side and that side (And not cut the skin together with the foreskin) and after that is done, The Mohel has to suck the blood from the cut with his mouth (The Metzitza).
- Periah and Metzizah Required Now some Mohels annul the Mitzvah of Periah and the Mitzvah of Metzitza completely meaning that they cut the foreskin together with the skin of the Periah and also they annul the sucking of the blood for they don't suck the blood at all. These things are parts of the Mitzvah of Milah for which our forefathers were ready to give up their lives and now without any coercion these new "Mohels" come and disdain and disregard the tradition of the Jews of all generations. " [[36]]
Should the procedure not include the peeling of the skin and its tearing by fingernails or the sucking of the blood orally, the procedure is considered to be unacceptable. Brit Milah is not complete unless blood is actually drawn. [[37]] Cohen cites Michel de Montaigne's observations and records of his witnessing a circumcision ritual in Rome in the 16th century book Travel Journal which confirmed the procedure. [[38]] He noted therein a reluctance of the Mohel to clean or remove the blood from his mouth after performing the Metzitza. [[39]] Cohen notes that it was custom to cite the post-Metzizah benedictions with blood still on the mouth in Modena, ca. 1805. In addition he calls attention to Polish Rabbi who preferred to blow the shofar on Rosh HaShanah with his mouth "dirtied by the blood of circumcision." [[40]]
- Disposal of Foreskin After the procedure is performed, the foreskin is disposed of in various but common ways. This author recalls his first attention to this subject matter occurred when a news story about a Rabbi stated he placed or buried the foreskins in flower boxes along the busy New York streets where he lived. Rubin and others state burial in dirt or sand is customary. [[41]] Likewise, it is customary to plant a tree on the location. The author also recalls reading that rose bushes were particularly desirable. Few if any explanations for these customs seem to exist. Rubinowitz notes a preference in the choice of trees. In the case of boys, a cedar is appropriate - for girls, an acacia. [[42]] These trees are cut and used later in the bridal canopy (huppa) during the child's marriage. (More on this below.) It is Interesting to note that the Acacia was found in the temples of Astarte, whose name meant 'womb.' [[43]] [41] http://www.dcmohel.com/ (1 of 8)12/5/2007 12:17:10 PM April Rubin, M.D. - Mohel in Washington, D.C.
.
- Risks of Metzizah We note that the Metzizah procedure is not performed with all precautions. Recent (2007) examples include a New York Rabbi that infected three babies with Herpes virus during the oral Metzizah portion of the procedure, one of which died. Despite this, the appropriate United States government agencies refused to put any restrictions on the procedure from the perspective of a medical surgery being performed by anyone without a license to practice medicine. [[44]]
- Meaning Needed With this as a background, we now turn to the Dogon tribe and it religious beliefs to help clarify the origin and meaning of Brit Milah. What follows may appear to digress sharply from the subject matter herein but serves to place ritual circumcision into its proper cosmic perspective. Hitherto, we have discussed the subject matter as an end result of a covenant, or as a medical, social or psychiatric problem. It has also been viewed and discussed in context of an element in social theory. Brit Milah has been presented in adequate and somewhat gory detail. However, we still have not conceptualized the cosmic or spiritual meaning of ritual circumcision. There is more to it than simply cutting off the foreskin to make someone's god happy or to cure a slew of medical and social problems. Beyond the excised foreskin one will find the god of matriarchal belief, his cosmogenesis and the fish-being called Nommo.
Foreskin and the Tree of Life - Amma's First Creation To understand the cosmic character of Jewish ritual circumcision we turn to the Dogon tribe of Africa for insight. In their religion the supreme god Amma created the first world, which was used to create the first universe. Before this however, the first thing created was the sene na, or Acacia (Faidherbia) albida. [[45]] Faidherbia is a thorny tree important to African life. Uses include bee raising, livestock food, lumber for construction, medicinal use, etc. [[46]] Found widespread, Acacia is omnipresent in ancient religions. For example, in the temples of Astarte as mentioned above and in Free Masonry where it is viewed as a 'new plant' associated with resurrection. [[47]] [45] Griaule, Pale Fox, pg 112.
- Tree Used in Creation In this creation story Amma planted the seed of the Acacia tree, which was the same shape as the tree's thorns. He placed a bell-shaped cap of the same wood on top of it and held it in place with another thorn (seed) that was inverted. Similar to a gyroscope or top, the inverted cap, which received everything in the ‘sky’, next spun until it eventually exploded. The germs within the cap were fertilized by the thorns before eventually being scattered to form the universe. [[48]] [48] Griaule, Pale Fox, pg 112.
- Symbolism of Seeds/Thorns Griaule specifically records here the cosmic image of the thorns:
".. the two
(thorns) which remained were like a man and a woman who lie down [49] Griaule, Pale Fox, pg 114. The Acacia symbolizes therefore not only the first plant, but also the first object created by god. It also was used in the creation of the universe. Two triangular Acacia thorns pointing towards each other are viewed as male and female united sexually, and is symbolic of the union of the male sky and the female Earth.
- Similar Symbolism in Huppa With this in mind, we return to the orthodox ritual recalling how the foreskin is buried. This is often at the roots of either some type of tree or bush. Sometimes this tree is later cut down and the trunk used for the four poles of the marriage canopy (huppa). The canopy is said to signify god's presence. In addition, it is a symbol of the home the couple will eventually establish. [[50]] Gutmann points out that the huppa was originally a bedroom canopy until the 16th century. [[51]] After that time the use changed when marriages were held in the synagogue instead of in homes. Gutmann, referring again to the huppa, also points out that the couple in ancient times were rolled in it, rather than simply being under it. Apparently it was associated more with nuptial behavior. In signifying god's presence, the huppa canopy today symbolizes the sky above (or held up by) the poles of the four corners of the universe (or trees). This would be consistent with the ancient belief that the sky god was male in character, the upper thorn or seed as described above.
- Importance of Milah The parallel in the importance of the tree found in both Jewish ritual circumcision and in Dogon cosmogenesis is reinforced by Yitzchak. He, et al., considers Milah to be "equal in importance to all other commandments combined." [[52]] Heaven would not have 'endured' without it in Jewish literature, and the universe would not have been created without it in Dogon mythology. "The Sages say, Great is Brit Milah, for were it not for Brit Milah, heaven and earth would not have endured, as it is written, "Were it not for My Covenant, I would not have created day and night, the laws of heaven and earth." (Jeremiah/Yirmiyahu 33:25) (Talmud Shabbat 137b)" [[53]] [52]Brit Yosef Yitzchak, http://www.brityy.org/content.asp?dept=1017&article=617
- Babylonian Tree Ceremony In general Goldberg recognizes the extent of ancient tree worship, considering it once to be a "universal religion." [[54]] This universal nature apparently accounts for the origin of the Jewish idea because we find the same concept in the Babylonian festival of New Year For Trees. In this festival trees were planted for each child born. Levy agrees with scholars that Tu B'Shvat, Jewish Earth Day, was adopted and adapted from a Babylonian festival for the goddess Asherah. Hoffman points out that the festival included ritual prostitution under trees or in the groves. The later disdain for the trees supposedly related to their use for this purpose. [[55]] (This may have more to do with the problem of comparative competition by Jewish women as seen in the Maimonides quote.) Prohibiting any form of tree worship, the rabbis converted it into a tax-collecting day. [[56]] Understandably, it was difficult to eliminate or convert this festival and its sinful activities. Nevertheless, the symbolism of the huppa is the same as the Babylonian tree festival. Nuptial behavior took place under the presence of god, entwined with him one might say, in the groves. [54] Goldberg, Sacred Fire, pg. 110.
- Sumerian and Phyrgian Nommos Seeing the parallel between Jewish ritual circumcision and Babylonian mythology, we need simply the parallel concerning the relationship between the foreskin and tree. The antiquity of the relationship is confirmed by the story of Agdistis from Sumerian myth. Probert records that Agdistis was a 'hermaphrodite monster' drugged with wine by the gods. While unconscious his genitals were tied to a tree. He castrated himself upon awakening after which a tree grew from his genitals. [[57]] The parallel between Agdistis and Nommo is intuitively obvious. Griaule, however, provides the link in detail.
. - Ogo, The Mischievous Nommo In the Dogon story the character named Ogo was a mischievous nommo who created disorder within the universe. Amma (the supreme god) sought to restore universal order by means of a sacrifice of another Nommo. The sacrifice was carried out in utero by separating the nommo from his uterus at the same time he was completely castrated. The blood of the penis rejuvenated or revitalized the damaged placenta at the same time the yayaga plant was formed on the spot of the fallen blood. [[58]] In this scenario, the contents of the genitals were sacred and sought after by Ogo. He took the contents along with the four sex souls located in the prepuce and attempted to steal it all. [[59]] His escape was thwarted by a nommo guard who recovered the four sex souls by circumcising Ogo using his teeth. [[60]]
- Periah of Ogo
|