Foot Binding
In ancient China, foot binding was an act practiced for nearly one thousand years. In the chinese culture, there was a common perception that a woman with small feet (shorter than six inches) is an atractive woman who will get married, whereas a woman with feet longer than 6 inches will not get married. As a result, there was foot binding which aimed at keeping women's feet small and preventing them from growing and developing normally.
At age 6, young chinese girls would have each of their feet soaked in a warm mixture of herbs and animal blood. Then their toenails would be cut as far as possible to prevent infections. After that each of their toes would be broken and tightly wrapped with bandages, soaked with the same mixture, that will compress after drying. Tightly pulling their toes downwards to the heels. This process puts little chinese girls into excruciating pain and will later lead to certain disabilities (that are now prevailing among some elderly chinese women).
Later on, several governmental laws were set to put a stop to this terrible, inhumane act.
Human Sacrifice
In many ancient cultures, human sacrifice was heavily practiced. It is the act of killing a human being and offering his soul to the Gods or any supernatural power in order to please them. Many cultures such as the Mayans and Aztecs were secretive about practicing human sacrifice, while other cultures resented such acted and considered it primitive.
Victims who were ritually killed ranged from infants to prisoners to Vestal virgins. They suffered horrible deaths that were aimed at pleasing the Gods, such as being burned, beheaded or buried alive.
Human sacrifice has become less and less common, and practiced very rarely. Mainly because most religions condemn the act, and current laws treat it as a criminal matter. However it is occationally still practiced in the least developed areas of the world that still hold on to their traditional beliefs.
Castration and Mutilation as TRADITIONS!
Castration was considered a tradition that was practiced in many societies of the past. A eunuch describes a man who was castrated in order to perform a specific social function. In ancient China, castration was performed for two purposes; as a punishment, and to gain employment in the imperial service.
In ancient Egypt, mutilation was a tradition. It represented the practice of circumcision of young egyption girls, for they believed that it will save them social disgrace in the future.
After several fights, protests, laws and regulations, these practices were finally eliminated in all countries.
