Sacred prostitution

Definition

Sacred prostitution refers to the practice of engaging in sexual acts as part of religious rituals or ceremonies, often associated with specific deities or religious beliefs. This practice was historically seen in various ancient cultures, where it served to reinforce the sacredness of fertility, prosperity, and community well-being, intertwining sexuality with spiritual expression and ethical considerations within religious contexts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sacred prostitution was practiced in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, India, and Greece, where it was integrated into the worship of fertility deities.
2. In ancient Sumer, the goddess Inanna was associated with sacred prostitution, where priestesses known as 'Nin' would perform sexual rites as part of their religious duties.
3. The economic aspect of sacred prostitution was significant; it often provided financial support to temples and religious institutions.
4. In some cultures, sacred prostitution was seen as a way to connect with the divine and was not viewed negatively; rather, it was considered a form of honoring the gods.
5. The decline of sacred prostitution practices began with the rise of monotheistic religions that condemned such rituals as immoral or inappropriate.

Review Questions

• How did sacred prostitution reflect the values and beliefs of ancient societies regarding sexuality and religion?
  • Sacred prostitution reflected the intertwined nature of sexuality and religion in ancient societies by showcasing how sexual acts could be viewed as sacred offerings to deities. It illustrated a cultural understanding that human sexuality could enhance divine favor and fertility for both crops and people. This practice reinforced community values around prosperity and social cohesion, while also highlighting diverse ethical views on sexuality across different cultures.
• What role did economic factors play in the continuation of sacred prostitution practices in ancient religious contexts?
  • Economic factors played a crucial role in the continuation of sacred prostitution as these practices often provided essential funding for temples and religious institutions. The revenue generated from sacred sexual services supported various religious activities and maintained the temple economy. Additionally, the social status granted to practitioners helped legitimize their roles within society, creating a system where economic necessity and religious duty were closely linked.
• Evaluate the implications of the decline of sacred prostitution on the transformation of sexual ethics in emerging monotheistic religions.
  • The decline of sacred prostitution marked a significant shift in sexual ethics with the rise of monotheistic religions that typically regarded such practices as immoral. This transition led to a re-evaluation of sexuality as something that should be contained within marriage and procreation rather than expressed through ritualistic means. As these religions established more rigid moral codes around sexual behavior, they fundamentally altered societal views on sexuality, often leading to increased stigmatization of sexual expression outside prescribed norms.

Related terms

Temple Prostitution: A form of sacred prostitution where individuals, often women, would engage in sexual acts within temple grounds as an offering to a deity, believed to ensure fertility and divine favor.

Fertility Cults: Religious groups that emphasized the importance of fertility in agricultural and human reproduction, often incorporating sexual rites into their worship practices to invoke blessings from deities.

Ritual Sex: Sexual acts performed as part of a ritual or ceremony, aimed at fulfilling spiritual goals, including communication with the divine or ensuring fertility.