Masturbation and Ancient Civilizations: Between Taboo and Sacred

In the long scroll of human civilization, the norms and attitudes towards sexual behavior constitute an important dimension of social culture. When we look back at the ancient world, we find a diverse and complex picture—masturbation was given vastly different meanings in different civilizations. It was sometimes considered taboo, sometimes revered as sacred; sometimes seen as a purely physiological release, sometimes integrated into creation myths and religious rituals. This difference in attitude reflects the profound reflections of different civilizations on humanity, the body, creation, and order.

Masturbation Views in Ancient Civilizations: From Sacred Rituals to Everyday Practices

Ⅰ.Ancient Egypt: Sacred Masturbation in Creation Myths

In the ancient Egyptian worldview, masturbation was not a secret or shameful act, but rather elevated to the level of creation. Egyptians believed that the universe itself originated from a sacred act of masturbation—the creator god Atum created the basic elements of the world through masturbation and ejaculation.

According to the Pyramid Texts, Atum stood on the Primordial Hill and ejaculated into his hand through masturbation, then put it in his mouth, spitting out the first pair of gods: Hugh (god of air) and Tefnut (goddess of moisture). This mythological narrative not only explains the origin of the world but also endows masturbation with a sacred creative power.

This concept extended to the Egyptians' understanding of natural phenomena. They linked the Nile's annual periodic flooding to the sacred ejaculation of Atum, believing that the river's rise and fall reflected the life rhythms of the gods. Within this belief system, the pharaoh, as the representative of the gods on earth, would sometimes simulate this sacred act in specific rituals to ensure the timely flooding of the Nile and guarantee bountiful agricultural harvests. These ritualistic acts demonstrate how Egyptian civilization integrated physiological behaviors into a grand cosmic order.

Ⅱ.Ancient Greece: Rational Practice from a Philosophical Perspective

Ancient Greek civilization exhibited a uniquely rational attitude towards masturbation. Unlike the Egyptians, who sanctified masturbation, the Greeks viewed it more from a practical and health perspective. In Greek medicine, moderate masturbation was considered a way to maintain fluid balance and preserve physical and mental health.

Greek philosophers' discussions on masturbation are particularly noteworthy. Diogenes, a representative of the Cynic school, is said to have masturbated in public, and openly stated, "If only it were so easy to get rid of hunger, I could simply rub my belly and it would be gone." This act was less obscene than a philosophical declaration—challenging social customs and advocating a return to a natural state.

Masturbation is a recurring theme in Greek art, particularly in depictions of satyrs (forest gods). These images are not intended to provoke moral condemnation, but rather to represent a natural human impulse. This relatively open attitude reflects a balanced perspective of Greek civilization regarding the body and desire: neither excessive indulgence nor complete repression.

Ⅲ.Sumer: The Fusion of Sexual Magic and Material Culture

As one of the earliest urban civilizations in human history, the Sumerians left behind a wealth of valuable records about their views on sex. Archaeologists have discovered from cuneiform tablets that the Sumerian civilization held a fairly open attitude towards sex, viewing sexual activity as a pleasurable, sacred, and magical activity.

In Sumerian mythology, the story of Inanna, the goddess of love and war, is rich in sexual symbolism. Masturbation in this civilization was believed to enhance magical power. Whether practiced alone or with a partner, masturbation was thought to strengthen spells and improve the quality of sex.

Even more intriguing is the possibility that the Sumerians may have developed specialized sexual aids. Some scholars, based on historical records, speculate that the Sumerian civilization may have invented a special mixture called "puru oil," containing magnetic iron ore powder and iron powder, used to increase friction and stimulation during sexual intercourse. This discovery suggests that as early as 3000 BC, humans had already begun exploring the possibility of enhancing sexual experiences through material culture.

Sumerian writing itself reflects this open attitude towards sexuality. The symbols representing men and women are simplified representations of the penis and vulva, respectively, while the state of "marriage" is indicated by placing these two symbols side-by-side. This direct visual expression reveals the Sumerian culture's natural attitude towards the body and sexuality.

Ⅳ.Ancient China: The Culture of Female Masturbation in Hidden Traditions

In the context of ancient Chinese civilization, open discussion of sex was often restricted, especially the expression of female sexuality. However, historical artifacts and documents reveal a more complex picture: beneath the mainstream discourse emphasizing female chastity, there was tacit approval and even material support for female masturbation.

Archaeological discoveries have provided direct evidence. The bronze masturbator unearthed from the tomb of Liu Sheng, Prince Jing of Zhongshan during the Western Han Dynasty, is exquisitely crafted and meticulously designed, with a protrusion at the tail specifically designed to stimulate the clitoris. This discovery not only proves the existence of female masturbators in ancient China but also suggests that such objects may have been the private possessions of aristocratic women.

Over time, the materials and forms of female masturbation devices have continuously evolved. From early bronze artifacts, they have developed into various materials such as pottery, jade, wood carvings, and horn; from simple shapes to increasingly exquisite designs, these objects bear witness to a side of women's private lives that has been overlooked in historical documents.

It is worth noting that the focus on women's sexual health in ancient Chinese medical literature indirectly reflects an understanding of women's sexual needs. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the balance of Yin and Yang, believing that moderate sexual release is beneficial to women's health. This medical viewpoint provides a certain degree of legitimacy for female masturbation under mainstream moral norms.

Ⅴ.Dialogue among civilizations: diversity and commonality

Different ancient civilizations' attitudes toward masturbation reflect their respective cultural understandings of human nature, the body, and the cosmic order. Egypt sanctified it as a creative force; Greece viewed it as a rational and healthy practice; Sumer attributed it with magical properties; while China maintained a delicate balance between public taboo and private acceptance.

Behind these differences, we can also find some commonalities: almost all civilizations have had to confront and explain this universal human behavior; most civilizations have drawn their own boundaries between the sacred and the secular, the public and the private, and the permitted and the prohibited; and the remnants of material culture—whether it be the ritual descriptions of Egypt, the artistic expressions of Greece, the special ointments of Sumer, or the bronze masturbation devices of China—all prove that masturbation, as part of human experience, has long been integrated into the complex narrative of civilization development.

Today, when we look back at the attitudes of these ancient civilizations towards masturbation, we are not only observing the diversity of history, but also reflecting on our own culture's presuppositions regarding the body, desire, and morality. These ancient perspectives remind us that human attitudes towards sex have always been products of cultural construction, and understanding the history of this construction may help us view contemporary sexual culture issues with a more open and diverse perspective.

In the echoes of history, masturbation, a seemingly private act, actually connects myths and rituals, philosophy and medicine, taboos and openness, material culture and the spiritual world. It is like a prism of civilization, reflecting the various ways in which humanity confronts its own nature—sometimes repressed, sometimes celebrated; sometimes deified, sometimes secularized; but never truly ignored.