Incidents of necrophilia

Necrophilia is a pathological fascination with dead bodies, which often takes the form of a desire to engage with them in sexual activities, such as intercourse. Although prohibited by the laws of many countries, there have been many reported cases of necrophilia throughout history.

History

Incidents of necrophilia are noted to have occurred throughout history. Greek author Herodotus (c.484-425 BCE) stated in his Histories that in Ancient Egypt, bodies of exceptionally beautiful women were not embalmed immediately after their deaths, but only after several days had passed, in order to prevent a recurrence of a case where it was discovered that an embalmer had sex with the body of a recently dead woman.[1][2]

According to the Babylonian Talmud (3rd-5th centuries CE), King Herod of Judea (73/74 BCE – 4 BCE) desired a certain maiden and, after she killed herself to avoid marrying him, preserved her body in honey for seven years. Some say that he embalmed her in order to have intercourse with her; others say that he did not have intercourse with her.[3][4] Roman-Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37 – c. 100 CE), whose works are the main source for Herod's life and character, says nothing about any necrophilia on his part.[5]

Remains of pottery from the Moche civilization represent dead skeletal figures engaged in sexual intercourse with living humans.[1][6]

Gilles de Rais is noted to have sexually violated the dead bodies of his victims.[7][8][9]

According to criminologist Herschel Prins, it was said that until the 19th century, if a betrothed girl in Central Europe died before her marriage day, the spouse could still carry out the ceremony by copulating with the body.[10]

In conflicts

During the 18th-century conflict of Peru between rebels of Tupac Amaru and Colonial forces, rebels raped dead women.[11]

In the 19th-century Russo-Turkish war, military forces sexually abused dead bodies.[12][13]

During the Moroccan War of 1919–1926, necrophilia was committed by the troops.[14]

A Chinese man was killed during the Nanking Massacre, after he refused to have sex with dead women.[15][16]

During the Rwandan Genocide, rape of dead bodies was reported.[17]

Arthur Shawcross, an American serial killer from Rochester, New York, had also practiced necrophilia.[18] Shawcross (also known as the Genesee River Killer) was convicted of 11 murders in November 1990. He claimed to have killed, raped, decapitated, and eaten two Vietcong women during a tour of Vietnam with the 4th Supply and Transport Company of the 4th Infantry Division in 1968, during the Vietnam War.[19] He reportedly also committed necrophilic sexual acts and mutilations on his victims in Rochester between 1988 and 1989. All but one were prostitutes from the area. Shawcross received two separate life sentences in Monroe County, NY and Wayne County, NY respectively.[20]

List of necrophiles

Woodcut of François Bertrand, convicted necrophiliac

See also

References

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  2. Aggrawal, Anil (2010). Necrophilia: Forensic and Medico-legal Aspects. CRC PRess. p. 6. ISBN 978-1420089127.
  3. Bava Batra 3b.
  4. "Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Baba Bathra". come-and-hear.com. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
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