Vagina dentata

Vagina dentata (Latin for 'toothed vagina') is a folk tale tradition wherein a vagina is said to contain teeth, implying that sexual intercourse might result in injury, emasculation, or castration. The concept of vagina dentata may also encompass a rare medical condition affecting the vagina, more accurately referred to as a vaginal dermoid cyst ^↗.

In folklore

Such folk stories are frequently told as cautionary tales warning of the dangers of unknown women and to discourage rape.

The psychologist Erich Neumann wrote that in one such myth, "...a fish inhabits the vagina of the Terrible Mother; the hero is the man who overcomes the Terrible Mother, breaks the teeth out of her vagina, and so makes her into a woman."

South America

The legend also appears in the mythology of the Chaco and Guiana tribes of South America. In some versions, the hero leaves one tooth.

North America

The Ponca and the Otoe tribes tell a story in which Coyote outwits a wicked old woman who placed teeth in the vaginas of her daughter and another young woman she kept prisoner in order to seduce, kill, and rob young men. Coyote kills the woman and her daughter but marries the other young woman after knocking out the teeth in her vagina "except for one blunt tooth that was very thrilling when making love."

Hinduism

In Hinduism, the asura Andhaka, son of Shiva and Parvati (but not aware of it), is killed by Shiva when he tries to force the disguised Shiva into surrendering Parvati. Andhaka's son Adi, also an asura, takes the form of Parvati to seduce and kill Shiva with a toothed vagina in order to avenge Andhaka but is also slain.

Ainu legends

According to the Ainu (Japanese) legend, a sharp-toothed demon hid inside the vagina of a young woman and emasculated two young men on their wedding nights. As a result, the woman sought help from a blacksmith who crafted an iron phallus to break the demon's teeth.

Māori mythology

In Māori mythology, the trickster Māui attempts to grant humanity immortality by reversing the birth process, transforming into a worm and crawling into the vagina of Hine-nui-te-pō, the goddess of night and death, then emerging through her mouth while she sleeps. His deception is thwarted when a pīwakawaka laughs at the sight of his entrance, awakening Hine-nui-te-pō, who bites the worm to death with her obsidian vaginal teeth.

Western Asia

Arabs from southeastern Iran and the islands in the Strait of Hormuz have a legend about Menmendas, a creature resembling a beautiful young woman with spikes on her thighs. She wanders the coastal mountains with a small box of jewels, captivating every man she encounters. Menmendas invites an enamored man into an empty house, places the box of jewels under her head, and lies down with her legs spread apart. If the man realizes who this woman is, he can throw a handful of sand into her eyes and escape with the box. However, if he is overcome by desire, the woman will cut him in half with her legs.

Psychology

In her book, Sexual Personae (1991), Camille Paglia wrote: "The toothed vagina is no sexist hallucination: every penis is diminished by every vagina, just as mankind, male and female, is devoured by Mother Nature."

In his book, The Wimp Factor, Stephen J. Ducat expresses a similar perspective, suggesting that these myths illustrate the threat that sexual intercourse poses for men who, although entering triumphantly, always depart diminished.

Medical

In rare instances, dermoid cysts (a type of tumor) may develop in the vagina. Dermoid cysts form from the outer layers of embryonic skin cells. These cells can mature into various types of tissues, enabling these cysts to arise anywhere skin exists or where it folds inward to become another organ, such as in the ear or vagina. However, when dermoid cysts occur in the vagina, they are covered by a layer of normal vaginal tissue and thus appear as a lump rather than recognizable teeth.

See also [ Gynophobia ]

More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Vagina_dentata ]

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