Chastity devices ...

[AndrewBlack]

I moved this after request from the high heels thread

With respect to infibulation, there are references in the literature of the the ancient Greek period to "chastity chains" being used on female slaves; there is, however, no description or illustration of how this was achieved. There are also many references stating that female slaves were infibulated, but again, no description or illustration of how this was done. There are two exhibits in the British Museum in London, which may well be an example of such a chastity chain or infibulation chain. They are labeled as "unknown, possibly horse harness ornaments". There is a diagram of the site where they were found showing that the pieces were found near the crotch positions of two skeletons, identified on the diagram as "females, probably slaves". Nothing else of horse origin was noted in this diagram.
Each exhibit consists of a small portion of what looks like poor quality chain maile. The rings are of bronze, rather larger and thinner than one would want for effective armour. Each ring is about 3/4 inch diameter and about 1/16 inch thick. They are welded shut rather untidily, some have large blobs at the point of union, some rings are off-set at the join: they are not ornaments. Each exhibit is symmetrical with about twelve rings along the centre-line. There is a row of ten rings on either side, each ring interlocking with two in the centre-line. There is a further row of eight either side of this, again each ring interlocks with two in the adjacent row. The whole thing is about six inches long and about two and a half inches wide. Roughly at the centre of the group, two of the rings are heavily corroded, and in one of the exhibits, one ring has a short gap.

It is possible to imagine that these might be infibulation or chastity chains. Each ring in the centre-line pierces both of the large lips along the whole line of the vulva, holding the two sides in close proximity. The rows either side would penetrate deep into the flesh of each of the large lips. The whole of the sensitive area of the vulva would be impossible to touch or stimulate. It is possible that some of the links would deliberately pass through the crura of the clitoris so as to give pain on arousal and thus discourage any interest in sex. Certainly, if fitted before puberty, the growing of the parts would apply tension to the rings so that any attempt to masturbate would be painful

If these are, indeed, infibulation chains covering the vulva of a female slave, the positions of the corroded and damaged links would exactly correspond to that of the urine flow.

From the owner's point of view, infibulation of the female slaves has all the advantages of the infibulation of male slaves. They are there to work and nothing else, and so any possibility of distraction is removed without impairing their health in any way.

From the slave's point of view, I just wonder what it felt like as the 48 rings were put into position and then welded shut!

I don't think, however, that the Ancient Greeks were known to utilise 6" locking stilettos on their slave-girls.

A fave pic of mine


(Andrew, I had to delete your picture as it is most definitely copyrighted which is against the CoC to post. Sorry)