论古希腊人的女性污染观念与净化仪式

A Study on the Female Pollution Concept and Purification Rituals of Ancient Greeks

本文从社会性别与社会控制的视角,考察了古希腊人对污染,尤其是女性污染问题的认识和相关净化仪式。古希腊人把一些混乱的情况、事情或人视为是“污染的”,并把它们看成不洁净的和危险的东西。他们认为,出生、死亡、谋杀、女人的经血、怀孕和性交等都具有污染性。这种污染会传染,必须举行净化仪式,以恢复正常的生活秩序。女性与生育、死亡等生理现象的密切关系,使其具有污染性或者最容易成为被污染的对象。古希腊人普遍持有的神话思维方式和歧视女性的妇女观使他们对污染,尤其是女性污染持有恐惧而焦虑的态度,促使城邦采取措施管束女性在生育、丧葬、性生活等方面的行为方式。这些观念和措施体现了古希腊城邦对女性道德与越界行为的控制,充分反映了古希腊城邦男权社会的本质。

This article examines the ancient Greeks'understanding of the pollution,especially the understanding of the female pollution and the related purification rituals,from the perspective of gender study and social control theory.The author states that the ancient Greeks considered some chaotic situations,issues or personnel to be"polluted"and regarded them as unclean and dangerous.The mythological thinking mode and discriminatory view on women commonly held by the ancient Greeks,led them to hold a fearful and anxious attitude towards the pollution,especially the female pollution,which prompted the city-states to take measures to regulate women's behavior in their childbirth,burial,sexual life,and other aspects.These concepts and measures reflect the control of the ancient Greek city-states over women's morality and transgressive behavior,and fully reflect the nature of the patriarchal society of the ancient Greek citystates.