Love in the Perfumed Garden
'The Perfumed Garden' is a sex manual written in the 16th century by Sheikh Nefzaoui - who lived in Tunisia, Northern Africa. He is believed to have written this erotic literature for a minister of the 17th ruler of the Hafsid kingdom.
In keeping with the culture of those times, 'The Perfumed Garden' was meant to be read only by the men and to be hidden from women. Later, translated into English (from a French edition) by Sir Richard Francis Burton in 1886, it was renamed "A manual of Arabian Erotology". Impressed by the uniqueness of the literature, Burton remarked at the Perfumed Garden's "seriousness with which even the most lascivious and obscene matters are presented."
The Perfumed Garden is considered much more erotic and humorous than the Ananga-ranga - also written during that time. The book starts with a description of the various types of men and women and warns the reader about the types of both men and women who are to be held in contempt.
The sexual act is dealt with in great length and is liberally illustrated with stories having a distinct Arabian flavour. Sexual intercourse is seen as the path to ultimate fulfillment, as suggested by the original name of the book "The Perfumed Garden for the Soul's Recreation".
This book is particularly known for its details on various sexual positions. Though written primarily for the sexual pleasure of the male, the Perfumed Garden also takes into account the sexual pleasure of the woman - for a mutually fulfilling experience. Here are a few sexual positions recommended by the Perfumed Garden:
A standing position - the man leans against the wall and holds the woman against him. The woman wraps her legs around his waist and holds his shoulders. The man has to be strong enough to bear the weight of his partner and thrust in this position.
A complicated one - the man sits with his legs stretched and apart. The woman lies facing him, in between his legs, with her feet tucked under him. The man reaches for her and pulls her upper arms towards him at the point of orgasm.
Like most other ancient sex manuals, the Perfumed Garden also refers to the private parts of men and women with creative names. For example, the male organ is referred to as "he with one eye", "the pigeon", "the pusher", "the liberator", "the exciter", "the swimmer" - just to name a few. The female parts are referred to as "the hot one", "the glutton", "the beautiful", "the silent one" - and many more. The female organ is described in great detail and various attributes are given to it.
Though the 'Perfumed Garden' abounds in popular myths and superstition, it is nevertheless an interesting piece of erotic literature and a good reference for enhancing one's sexual life.
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