When did BDSM actually originate: history from antiquity to the present day
Many people consider BDSM to be a relatively new phenomenon. The term was first coined by Paul Gebhard in 1969 in an essay entitled “Fetishism and Sadomasochism.” However, the first mentions of BDSM go back to the distant past. The cultural heritage of various civilizations has imprinted sexual practices with elements of BDSM. Today we will talk about the history of this unusual destination — about archaeological finds and archaeological records that show that its history is older than many of us can imagine.
Contents of the article:
Mesopotamian dominatrix goddess
The Mesopotamian state was located on the territory of modern Iraq. It was one of the first developed human civilizations. It was here, more than 12, 000 years ago, that cities first emerged. Writing and the wheel were invented in Mesopotamia. It was here that the first stories of sexual acts of dominance and submission were recorded. Basically, their main character was the arrogant goddess Inanna (her pseudonym is Ishtar). The contents of Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets are described in detail by researcher Anna Nomis in her book Dominant History and Art. Therefore, Inanna was the main female deity of Mesopotamia. Goddess of passion, fertility and war, she worshiped her vagina and forced men to worship her in turn. Inanna did not hesitate to defeat those who danced for her. Then the terrible Ishtar lured them into a sexual frenzy. One of the hymns dedicated to her says that she changed clothes, went into a trance and performed a ritual “imbued with pain and ecstasy.” All this shows how much the ancients admired everything that stimulated the mind and emotions of their contemporaries.
Ancient Greece and Rome: whips and floggings
The average person typically views the cradle of European civilization as the source of modern philosophy, politics, science and art. But to connect Hellas and Ancient Rome with BDSM. It turns out that sadomasochism is quite common in many areas. The main thing is to know where to look. In her book, Anna Nomis mentions a special ritual held in Sparta and dedicated to the goddess Artemis Orthia. The process was called “diamastigosia” and consisted of beating young men and teenagers with whips. It passed right in front of the entrance to the temple and was considered a symbol of sacrifice to the goddess. The priestesses carefully monitored the flogging process. Of course, the diamastigosia sessions were very cruel, but, on the other hand, they are evidence of one of the oldest manifestations of BDSM.
One of the tombs, dedicated to the god Dionysus, was covered in sexual imagery associated with submission and dominance. The walls of this tomb depict a woman being whipped by two men during an erotic tryst.
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The famous fresco from Pompeii, popularly known as the “Villa of Secrets”, depicts a winged goddess holding a whip. The mere mortal mercilessly brushes her off — and he takes out a mysterious object covered with a light purple cloth (historians believe that this object may symbolize the phallus). All this indicates that flogging was not just a punishment, but a sacred rite. And possibly with sexual intercourse.
The Unexplored Kama Sutra
Another proof is the famous Kama Sutra, one of the oldest books on sex. It was written in Sanskrit around 400 BC. and 300 AD, but contrary to popular belief, it is not simply a guide to sexual positions. The Kama Sutra is a comprehensive guide to a happy life that draws heavily on aspects such as sexuality and eroticism. Its text consists of philosophical ideas about life and love, accompanied by poetic explanations. On the pages of the ancient book you can find descriptions of heterosexual and homosexual relationships between men, the dynamics of power and submission in couples and, of course, countless sexual positions. The Kama Sutra has a section dedicated to what we today call BDSM. Biting, scratching, hitting, screaming — it”s all described on this page. There is also a page on Types of Nail Wounds. One of the chapters is devoted to erotic spanking, which occurs with the consent of both lovers. The Kama Sutra describes four types of blows. However, even this old book warns that only those who enjoy it should be spanked. The Kama Sutra is considered the first text to differentiate between those who derive pleasure from pain during sex and those who do not.
Japan
Now let”s move across the sea to the distant land of the rising sun. In Japan, many forms of martial arts were created around the concepts of “slavery” and “humiliation”. Japan was isolated from the rest of the world until the mid-1800s. As a result, progress here took its course. Some aspects of the national economy grew faster, others slower. For example, metalworking in ancient Japan was practically undeveloped. However, martial arts have reached incredible heights. One of these areas was hojutsu — the art of tying captured criminals with ropes. To prevent escape, samurai and navy representatives used complex and secret knots. This meant that the criminals could not escape.
In hojo-jutsu, special attention was paid not only to its main purpose, but also to aesthetic elements. The practice manual stated that knots should be pleasing to the eye. Hojojutsu was a pioneer in bondage, the Japanese rope art of tying up slaves. This is the basis for another form of BDSM that is still widely practiced today. Therefore, if someone in front of you dares to say that BDSM practitioners are just crazy perverts, you can safely remind him of this. This trend has existed since the advent of writing. And everything else is pure fiction and prejudice.
