Eunuchs
Eunuchs were mostly servants or slaves who, because of their function, had been castrated, usually in order to make them reliable servants of a royal court where physical access to the ruler could wield great influence.
This connection includes courts where eunuchs were employed.
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Agra Fort | ||
| Ashur | ||
| Changdeokgung Palace Complex | ||
| Cordoba | Young boys termed Slavs (Arabic Ṣaqāliba) in the Arabic texts were brought to Cordoba by the thousands to serve as palace eunuchs. "The most lucrative slave market was the Islamic slavery in Al-Andalus. The Arabic Caliphate of Córdoba referred to the forests of Central and Eastern Europe, which came to function as a slave source supply, as the Bilad as-Saqaliba ("land of the slaves")." (wiki) | |
| Fatehpur Sikri | ||
| Granada | Alhambra | |
| Historic Cairo | former center of eunuch trade (source: Eunuchs and Castrati: A Cultural History) | |
| Hué | Imperial Palace | |
| Imperial Palace | Beijing | |
| Imperial Tombs | Ming Imperial Tombs includes a tomb of an eunuch of the last Ming Emperor | |
| Istanbul | Topkapi Palace | |
| Medina Azahara | Young boys termed Slavs (Arabic Ṣaqāliba) in the Arabic texts were brought to Cordoba by the thousands to serve as palace eunuchs, . "The most lucrative slave market was the Islamic slavery in Al-Andalus. The Arabic Caliphate of Córdoba referred to the forests of Central and Eastern Europe, which came to function as a slave source supply, as the Bilad as-Saqaliba ("land of the slaves")." (wiki) - see link for Medina Azahara example | |
| Mount Taishan | during imperial time eunuchs from the capital came here to perform Taoist services and pray for peace and longevity for the emperor, concubines, princes and princesses | |
| Mountain Resort, Chengde | ||
| Old City of Jerusalem | Jerulsalem's Dome of the rock was guarded by black eunuchs (source: Eunuchs and Castrati: A Cultural History) | |
| Persepolis | ||
| Ravenna | Basilica of San Vitale: "Another panel shows Empress Theodora solemn and formal, with a golden halo, crown and jewels, and a group of court women as well as eunuchs." | |
| Red Fort | ||
| Summer Palace | ||
| Thang Long |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Eunuchs?
A connection should:
- Not be "self evident"
- Link at least 3 different sites
- Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
- Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
- Be explained, with reference to a source