Venus Castina

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Venus Castina: A Greek Goddess later adopted by the Romans. She is the goddess of female spirits trapped in male bodies (see also Transgender). She also represents gender variance, and any practice that goes against the social norm of gender appearance or behavior. Depictions of worshipers of Venus Castina have revealed that both men and women worshiped her, some depictions included male worshipers dressed in female attire.

She is legend to have cursed a group of Scythians who pillaged the temple of Venus at Ascelon , by turning them into women.

Hippocrates wrote of the Scythians: "They not only follow women's occupations, but show feminine inclinations and behave as women. The natives ascribe the cause to a deity..." - Everthing2 Article [1]

The Scythian curse has been attributed to the widespread use of licorice root. Licorice root also knows as 'Scythian root' acts as a phytoestrogen. During drought years, this property is increased. The phytoestrogens can cause feminizing in males including gynocomastia. Sythian's who experienced this effect would be treated as women, and often take on the typical roles that women held.

"The Scythians who plundered the temple were punished by the goddess with the female sickness, which still attaches to their posterity. They themselves confess that they are afflicted with the disease for this reason, and travelers who visit Scythia can see what sort of a disease it is. Those who suffer from it are called Enarees." - the Histories, I, 105. Herodotus

References and outside links:

"Venus Castina: Famous female impersonators celestial and human" by Clarence Joseph Bulliet, Bonanaza Books (1956) - ASIN: B0007HSATY

Gender Center Article: [2] MYSTERY OF THE AMAZONS: [3] Everything2 Article : [4]