Celsus' decircumcision operation Medical and historical implications

Abstract

The Greeks and Romans, who celebrated the nude human body in art and sport, viewed any abnormal appearance of the genitals with distaste, even amusement. Surgical procedures were developed in the Hellenistic period for those who had undergone circumcision or had been born with little or no prepuce and who subsequently wished to cover their bared glans in order to move inconspicuously in Greek and Roman society. Celsus, writing during the reign of Tiberius (A.D. 14-37),’ describes two such operations in De medicina (7.25.1). His account of decircumcision raises important medical and historical questions. That one can call decircumcision restoration of the prepuce a plastic surgical procedure is suggested by Celsus. He introduces his operations in this way: “And if the glans is bare, and the man wishes for the look of the thing to have it covered, that can be done.“’ Decorum rather than health is the motive. By using decoris causa (“for the sake of appearance”), Celsus implies that an uncovered glans was socially unacceptable in Rome of the early empire, a Rome that had adopted the Greek institution of public nudity in the gymnasium and the baths. Loss or lack of a prepuce may have compelled some individuals with this condition to undergo the operations that Celsus describes in order to restore it. Before considering some historical implications, I shall present, first, Celsus’ description of reconstruction of the prepuce and, second, decircumcision proper.’