Scotsguy44

What are the sources of your above statement that puberty happened later in antiquity?

Thanks
Matt

Vorkosigan

It's one of those generally known facts, Matt. Start here.

http://www.mum.org/menarage.htm

Vorkosigan

Also type "age of menarche in antiquity" etc. Soon information will cascade down on you.

Solo

Along the lines of inquiry here: I often wondered if a dog chasing his tail would be a case of provoked, or unprovoked, aggression.

Best,
Jiri

Sheshbazzar

It needs to be noted that it is NOT evident that Mary ever wrote any of these passages.

The writers could easily make 'Mary' say whatever it was that they wished her to have said.

Thus nothing in the passages cited is to be trusted as being truly indicative of 'Mary's' own state of mind or her willingness.

The poor girl was only a subject of, and a victim of these anonymous writers screwy religious imaginations.

aa5874

This must be a big Joke.

Mary was found with child of a Holy Ghost and people are trying to find out if she was raped.

When the baby is born won't it look like the FATHER?

Chili

Well I could say that when people get to be 500 years old and older it is not likely that puberty is at 12-13. . . and then even Elizabeth was said to be 100 years old and never had a child either (poor Zach), but when snakes are said to be talking you decide where your own comfort zone lies on whether it is allegory or not . . . and hoerah for America where good stuff like this is allowed to be aired and let's just hope it is not in response to consumer demand.

Doug Shaver

Sounds like you're talking about the historical Mary, mother of the historical Jesus of Nazareth.

I agree that we cannot trust the canonical writings to inform us about her state of mind on the occasion of Jesus' conception.

Or, for that matter, any other occasion in her life.

Sheshbazzar

'The poor girl' is only a writers character in a Zombie Death-Cults religious propaganda work.

There is no such thing as a 'historical' Mary, mother of any 'historical' Jesus of Nazareth.
These story-book characters have no 'history' at all except as being characters appearing in a wildly preposterous story-book.

They are no more 'historical' than are the figures and stories of 'Isis and Horus', 'Juno and Mars' or 'Jack and Jill'.

Scotsguy44

I looked at your link and find that it agrees with an approx age of 13.3 - 15 for the onset of puberty in Jerusalem (and I presume by extension other areas in the same country).

Thanks
Matt