Aristotle believed that "the woman functions only as a receptacle, the child being formed exclusively by means of the sperm." According to an amusing theory of his day, the masculine seed, manufactured in the brain, descended along the ears and then made the journey down to the testicles via the spinal cord; those who championed this view of conception saw the sperm as a sort of "brain drop." He also believed that semen naturally produced males, and that a female resulted only if its development was disturbed.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Ah, the Masculine Seed!
From Babies: History, Art & Folklore:
Aristotle believed that "the woman functions only as a receptacle, the child being formed exclusively by means of the sperm." According to an amusing theory of his day, the masculine seed, manufactured in the brain, descended along the ears and then made the journey down to the testicles via the spinal cord; those who championed this view of conception saw the sperm as a sort of "brain drop." He also believed that semen naturally produced males, and that a female resulted only if its development was disturbed.
Aristotle believed that "the woman functions only as a receptacle, the child being formed exclusively by means of the sperm." According to an amusing theory of his day, the masculine seed, manufactured in the brain, descended along the ears and then made the journey down to the testicles via the spinal cord; those who championed this view of conception saw the sperm as a sort of "brain drop." He also believed that semen naturally produced males, and that a female resulted only if its development was disturbed.
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Hmmm. an odd bird.
My mom is one of three sisters. One of those sisters had three girls. And none of it had to do with the other.
Blame it on my grandfather and uncle, who are not related!
It seems the kids of all of these sisters have tried to change things a bit. Collectively, we have 6 boys and 1 girl. :)
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