Queere Lesarten von Adams Androgynie

ABSTRACT

In the framework of queer readings, following feminist interpretations of the biblical creation accounts, Adam as an androgynous creature and the division of the double-faced first human are discussed. Within rabbinic literature two Jewish traditions are found which are based on Plato’s unique, strange myth of the circle-men in his work Symposium: First, it was imagined that the first human combined both genders in himself. Second, it was suggested that two persons were created in one. This has been illustrated by the double-faced image of the first human who finally has been divided. Already at the beginning of the 20^th century the godlikeness of the “homosexual” was asserted in connection with Genesis 1,27. Now a queer rereading of this Bible verse is provided.

Key words:

• Adam
• androgyny
• creation account
• rabbinic Judaism
• queer readings