Whore – from sanctity to shame: The original meaning of the word through history

The Power of a Word

Today, the word 'whore' carries negative connotations and is often used to shame and degrade women, especially their sexuality. We use it to label women who are supposed to be 'bad' or 'dirty'. But have you ever wondered why there is no equivalent word for a man? Why has 'whore' become synonymous with something shameful?

Sacred Origins

Interestingly, this word has a completely sacred origin. Before the advent of patriarchy and misogyny, when societies still celebrated female power, the word 'whore' had a completely different meaning. In ancient Hebrew, the word 'zonah' meant both prostitute and prophetess. The Hebrew term 'hor' means cave, pit, or dark hole. In Spanish, the word 'puta' comes from the Latin term for a well – 'puticuli', which literally means 'womb of rebirth'.

Metaphors and Spiritual Meaning

The cave, pit, and well are powerful metaphors for female genitalia, but they also carry a deeper spiritual meaning – they represent the primordial darkness from which all life originates. In ancient times, a prostitute actually meant a priestess, a woman dedicated to channeling life energy. These women were connected to divine energies and offered their bodies as a channel for divine creative power. Their sensuality was intertwined with creation, and their eroticism was connected to life itself.

Wise Women and Priestesses

In their original meaning, prostitutes were wise women, priestesses, who were beacons in the darkness and represented the maternal energy that brings life. However, with the shift to patriarchal societies, the word 'whore' lost its sacred meaning and became an expression of humiliation. This is part of a long history of misogyny that has systematically attacked and devalued women and their divine dimension for centuries.

The Case of Mary Magdalene

You have probably heard that Mary Magdalene was also labeled a whore. Have you ever felt that this was unjust?

Reclaiming the Meaning

In this context, we can understand that the original meaning of the word 'whore' has a completely different dimension from the one presented to us by today's society. In our organization, Dobra Družba, we believe it is important to get to know these historical layers and re-evaluate the meaning of femininity, strength, and sensuality. We advocate for a world where sex workers will once again be respected and recognized in their entirety, regardless of the stigmas society places on them.

Words have power, and as a community, we strive to understand the word 'whore' again in its original, sacred light.