La Circoncision et l'Excision chez les Coptes: Études Historique et Comparative

[EN] The aim of these pages is to provide a sufficient idea concerning the circumcision and the excision of the Copts. Important studies have been generally already presented on this topic. From the earliest ancient and modern times, the circumcision of the boys and the excision of the girls were and are still practiced in Egypt until now, particularly in the villages and in the popular areas. Our interest is to clear firstly the meaning of these chirurgical operations. Then, we shall give a long survey about their history in Egypt and their different types. It is important also to study the origin of these customs, the reasons of their accomplishment in general by the Egyptians and especially by the Copts, their different steps to which a particular importance is attached and their various influences on both sexes. We shall be based essentially on the studies already done before, in order to find the link between the past and the present and in order to know why the Coptic community continued until now to practice the circumcision. Perhaps we shall be able to go farther with a deep comparative and analytical study in other religions and civilizations and of some precious artistic scenes conserved in some archeological sites in Egypt and abroad to give to the specialists and to the readers a complete idea of the essential goal of these operations for the Copts.