La sexualidad en «Las Etimologías» de San Isidoro de Sevilla: cristianismo y mentalidad social en la Hispania visigoda

Abstract

Human sexuality, as an expression of the social behaviour, was a question of great interest in a triple way (educational, controlling and repressive) for the ecclesiastic and civil authorities in Visigothic Spain. As a reflection of its time, Etymologiae by Saint Isidore of Seville gives evidence of the official christian sexual morality, which places a high value on chastity and follows faithfully the principles of ¿le patristic teaching, and shows its crystallization in a group of guidelines and advices for a healthy and correct use of sex which will penetrate deeply in the social mentality of Visigothic Spain.