Not Tonight, Honey; I Have a Battle Tomorrow

AZ_Dawn · Aug 12, 2008

So the captain of my pirates' ship dies in battle early on. For some odd reason, I thought one of my MCs might wonder if the captain slept with his mistress the night before, thus sapping his fighting prowess. Then I wondered if this was a period belief.

Was sex before a battle consider a power sapper in the late 17th-early 18th Centuries? If so, was it a belief among the English, French, Irish, or Welsh? Was it a belief among sailors, or just a land-based thing? Thanks!

san_remo_ave · Aug 12, 2008

Hi AZ Dawn,

It would seem the that theory of not overindulging in such activities goes back quite a ways --according to THIS book I found in google books, several Greek philosophers thought overdoing things could either reduce a man's mental capacity or the fluid in the spine. So, it appears there's some precidence in the thought that it could 'weaken' a man, in one regard or another. :e2faint:

pdr · Aug 12, 2008

But...

some cultures held the opposite view and insisted on plenty before battle!

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Aug 13, 2008

Last time I heard of this, Joe Namath was fighting the good fight for his own personal freedom to get plenty before 'battle' in football. I had no idea the belief went so far back in time.

Doogs · Aug 13, 2008

I don't know about the night before type of scenario...I imagine it varies on a culture-by-culture basis and how said cultures viewed sex.

But I can guarantee that guys have been using the "I'm going off to war" line to score with girls since the beginning of time.

AZ_Dawn · Aug 15, 2008

Not quite what I was looking for, but at least I now know it wasn't some modern invention. Thanks!

Not Tonight, Honey; I Have a Battle Tomorrow

AZ_Dawn

AW Addict

san_remo_ave

Back at it

pdr

Ol' Fashioned Girl

Hand? What hand?

Doogs

AZ_Dawn

AW Addict