History of circumcision

Circumcision likely has ancient roots among several ethnic groups in sub-equatorial Africa, Egypt, and Arabia, though the specific form and extent of circumcision has varied. Ritual male circumcision is known to have been practiced by South Sea Islanders, Aboriginal peoples of Australia, Sumatrans, and some Ancient Egyptians.

Today it is still practiced by some Jews, Samaritans, Druze, Coptic Christians, Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox, Muslims, and some tribes in East and Southern Africa. Other countries with significant rates of circumcision include the United States, South Korea, and the Philippines.

As practiced in ancient Egypt and elsewhere in Africa, only part of the foreskin was removed. However, in some forms of Judaism and in the United States, the foreskin is often completely removed, especially if it is for traditional or cosmetic reasons rather than as a treatment for phimosis. Circumcision and/or subincision, often as part of an intricate coming of age ritual, was a common practice among the Aboriginal peoples of Australia and most Pacific islanders at first contact with Western travellers. It is still practiced in the traditional way by some of the population.

Herodotus, writing in the 5th century BCE, lists first of all the Egyptians being the oldest people practicing circumcision then Colchians, Ethiopians, Phoenicians, and Syrians as circumcising cultures.