Ancient & modern
THE Pope has been asked to apologise officially on behalf of the thousands of male castrati that the Church created (evidently as late as the 1950s) for use in its choirs. One rather hopes, for his sake, that the Holy Father does not meet a castrato like the ancient Greek Hermotimus. Those of sensitive disposition should look away now.
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus (fifth century BC) tells the story. Evidently a young Greek boy called Hermotimus, living on the west coast of Turkey, had been sold on the slave market. He was bought by another Greek, one Panionius. This Panionius made a living by purchasing beautiful boys, castrating them, and selling them on to the Persian court at Sardis. (Herodotus explains here that Persians had a high regard for eunuchs, believing that their condition made them absolutely trustworthy. Herodotus does not elaborate, but the Greek essayist Xenophon makes the point that, being generally despised, eunuchs were extremely loyal to anyone who took them on, and, not being pulled this way and that by the demands of physical passion, were not likely to put love for someone else above love for their master. That, Xenophon concludes, is why eunuchs make such excellent bodyguards.) Anyway, this Hermotimus was duly castrated by Panionius and sold. But he did well for himself and over time became more valued by the Persian king Xerxes than any other of his eunuchs.
One day, on business among the Greek community in Asia, Hermotimus met Panionius again. He recognised Panionius at once — one does not quickly forget the man who removed your testicles — introduced himself and told him that he was now top eunuch at the Persian court in Sardis. He thanked Panionius for everything he had done and suggested he might like to bring his wife and children to Sardis to see what a grand life it was. Panionius was delighted and did as Hermotimus suggested.
When Hermotimus had the whole family there, he turned on Panionius, telling him that no one lived by a filthier, more unholy trade. 'What did I, or any of your other victims, do to you that you should have made me a nothing instead of a man?' he asked. 'Doubtless you hoped to hide your vile crimes from the eyes of the gods. Well, justice has now delivered you into my hands.' There and then he forced Panionius to castrate his own sons with his own hand. There were four of them. That done, he forced the sons to castrate Panionius.
The case for an apology seems quite
strong. Peter Jones
Previous page
