Page 194 - Novopazarski Zbornik 36

200 Jasmina Hamidović, Lejla Hamidović НЗ 36/2013

Jasmina Hamidović
Lejla Hamidović

WOMEN THROUGH HISTORY AND TIME

Pregnancy and contraception had a major role in a everyday life of wo-
men in Roman Egypt. Advices on gynecological problems and contraception can
be found in some medical papyrus from pharaonic Egypt: medical papyrus Kahun
VI.1, papyrus Ebers and papyrus Berlin 3038. Our main narrative source is Sora-
nus, Greek physician from Ephesus, whose Gynecology offers a unique insight in
methodical medical approach on this subject. Wet nursing contracts from Roman
Egypt strictly prohibited sexual relations to wet nurses. It was believed that such
encounters would sour their milk and if pregnancy occurred lactation would seize
and the wet nurse would be obliged to return money and pay significant fines (her
monthly) pay way around 10 to 12 drachmas and the fines included everything she
was already received increased for 50% and the same amount was due to public
treasury. Wet nurses (and prostitutes alike) had to find a way to prevent unqanted
pregnancies. Contraceptive methods included vaginal applicators such as cotton
soaked in honey and acacia mixture or crocodile dung mixed with ayut paste.
Papyrus Berlin 3038 offers probably the earliest pregnancy test: woman should
everuday urinate on bags of barley and emmer, if both of them changes she will
give birth: if only barley germinates she will give birth to a boy, if emmer germi-
nates, she will have a girl. Among other things Greek medics recommended using
olive oil and natron. Soranus explains a process of conception offering advices
on preventing pregnancy. Magic amulets were widely used, as well as potions
and other magical remedies. Abortion and abortive potions were known but con-
sidered too risky. Unwanted children were exposed, left to die or live as a slave.
Lack of evidence is evident, probably because contraception was mainly seen
as a women s duty. About the everyday lives of the women of our city has little
information. Of accepted records for births in 1920 women and the end of 2012,
there have been great improvements in the monitoring of the implementation of
pregnancy today the number of births in our area by giving birth 4 maternity by
birth. Role of the women of this area is particularly important in the promotion
of a new value system lifestyle culture of solidarity transfers and integration of
reproductive health.