ABSTRACT
In some fourth-century authors uterus refers more generally to the abdominal cavity, but Augustine’s usage can easily be documented. It is also possible to trace some of the texts of Scripture, and themes of the Confessions, which influenced his language here. Language is an important aspect of the problems. In Genesis 2 Adam recognizes Eve, saying that she shall be called woman because she was taken from man. This is the first use, in Greek and Latin texts, of the word which means ‘man’ in the sense of ‘male human being’, as distinct from the word which can mean ‘human being’ without distinction of gender. So perhaps Adam’s womb continues to startle, or at least to demand that the reader reflects on Adam as representative human, and asks how a generic human can have a sex-specific organ.
