Eunuchs in Byzantium

Sean Tafer - a specialist in late Roman and Byzantine history, a professor at the School of History, Archaeology and Religion at Cardiff University. The existence of eunuchs was one of the defining features of the Byzantine Empire. Sean Tafer explores various aspects of the eunuch phenomenon. What roles did eunuchs play at court? They appear not only as servile attendants; some of them were influential political figures, prominent bishops, and monks. The reader will learn how society viewed eunuchs, especially regarding their gender identity - whether they were perceived as men, women, or a third gender. Covering the entire period of the empire's history, from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the author provides a comprehensive overview of the history of eunuchs, using extensive comparative material from China, Persia, the Ottoman Empire, etc. The book "Eunuchs in Byzantium" is translated by Andrey Vinogradov, a Russian historian and researcher of Byzantium and early Christianity.