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Naming of Slave-girls in Arabic: A Survey of Medieval and Modern Sources

Hekmat Dirbas


Pages 26 - 38

DOI https://doi.org/10.13173/zeitarabling.69.0026




A survey of medieval and modern Arabic sources suggests that naming of
slave-girls reflects their background and function. Whereas women who were
enslaved in adulthood mostly kept their original names, which were similar to
the ones used for free Muslim women, those who were born in slavery or purchased
in childhood had typical slave names. The slave-girl in this latter category
could have a descriptive name (based on her skin colour or similar qualities) or
a name indicating an object, wish, fortune, or sexual desire. The latter pattern
particularly applies to singing slave-girls of the caliphs and the elite, among
them being the female transvestites. Despite the disappearance of slavery, many
typical slave-girls’ names are still freely used for females in the Arab
world.

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