The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse Circumcision
Biblical Hebrew is known for its creative avoidance of mentioning intimate body parts. Did such euphemisms continue in Greek-speaking Judaism? This article proposes that the “Greek hat” in 2 Maccabees 4:12 is not (or at least not only) a literal hat or a vague metaphor for Hellenism, as has been sug...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Sheffield
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies |
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| Online Access: | https://jibs.hcommons.org/2024/04/22/the-greek-hat2-maccabees-412-as-a-euphemism-for-reverse-circumcision/ |
| _version_ | 1797198148601380864 |
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| author | Sara Parks |
| author_facet | Sara Parks |
| author_sort | Sara Parks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biblical Hebrew is known for its creative avoidance of mentioning intimate body parts. Did such euphemisms continue in Greek-speaking Judaism? This article proposes that the “Greek hat” in 2 Maccabees 4:12 is not (or at least not only) a literal hat or a vague metaphor for Hellenism, as has been suggested through the centuries. Instead, it is a sly euphemism for a foreskin, and refers to the practice of epispasm, or the restructuring of a penis to reverse the look of circumcision. Such a reading fits well with the text’s anxiety around the gymnasium and its concern for Torah observance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T06:55:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2d1c8c9eea634a568c6f543e6e8f8d90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2633-0695 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T06:55:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | University of Sheffield |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d1c8c9eea634a568c6f543e6e8f8d902024-04-22T12:45:03ZengUniversity of SheffieldJournal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies2633-06952024-04-0152120https://doi.org/10.17613/16n2-qj96The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse CircumcisionSara Parks0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7581-7598St Francis Xavier UniversityBiblical Hebrew is known for its creative avoidance of mentioning intimate body parts. Did such euphemisms continue in Greek-speaking Judaism? This article proposes that the “Greek hat” in 2 Maccabees 4:12 is not (or at least not only) a literal hat or a vague metaphor for Hellenism, as has been suggested through the centuries. Instead, it is a sly euphemism for a foreskin, and refers to the practice of epispasm, or the restructuring of a penis to reverse the look of circumcision. Such a reading fits well with the text’s anxiety around the gymnasium and its concern for Torah observance.https://jibs.hcommons.org/2024/04/22/the-greek-hat2-maccabees-412-as-a-euphemism-for-reverse-circumcision/epispasm2 maccabeesjudaismhellenismtorahpetasoscircumcision |
| spellingShingle | Sara Parks The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse Circumcision Journal for Interdisciplinary Biblical Studies epispasm 2 maccabees judaism hellenism torah petasos circumcision |
| title | The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse Circumcision |
| title_full | The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse Circumcision |
| title_fullStr | The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse Circumcision |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse Circumcision |
| title_short | The Greek Hat: 2 Maccabees 4:12 as a Euphemism for Reverse Circumcision |
| title_sort | greek hat 2 maccabees 4 12 as a euphemism for reverse circumcision |
| topic | epispasm 2 maccabees judaism hellenism torah petasos circumcision |
| url | https://jibs.hcommons.org/2024/04/22/the-greek-hat2-maccabees-412-as-a-euphemism-for-reverse-circumcision/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saraparks thegreekhat2maccabees412asaeuphemismforreversecircumcision AT saraparks greekhat2maccabees412asaeuphemismforreversecircumcision |