Harem is a word derived from Arabic haram, which means a group of women who live and share a house, living under the rules of a polygamous marriage.
This word can also designate a room in the house/palace that is prohibited or illegal for women, children or men who do not belong to the same family to stay and enter.
A Harem, in some cultures, can be considered as a "House of Happiness", where a man has the "divine" power to satisfy his needs. sexual needs freely, having several cloistered women (also known as odalisques) and willing to serve him in exclusivity.
Harems are banned in almost all Islamic and Muslim countries, with the exception of Saudi Arabia and some regions belonging to the Persian Gulf.
Having a harem is expensive and has always been connoted as a sign of great wealth, as a man must have a lot of money. to support the multiple women, who receive the so-called "dowry" - inheritance left by the harem owner for each wife.
Normally, harems were managed by eunuchs - men without sexual organs - so that there would be no risk of relating to the wives of the boss, the owner of the harem.
The term also has a figurative meaning to define the houses of prostitution.
Currently, the meaning of the harem has undergone some changes, especially among Western countries, starting to connote a mystical and sacred place, similar to an oasis in the middle of the desert. A place of tranquility and pleasure, where luxury is still present.
Harem in Anime
In Japanese culture, the harem is a genre of anime and manga (Japanese cartoons and comic books) characterized by presenting a protagonist masculine or feminine which is always surrounded by characters of the opposite sex. As a rule, the stories are romantic comedies and the main character is male, that is, he appears surrounded by women.
The call "inverse harem" is when the main character is a woman, and a lot of boys are interested in her. Typically, "inverse harem" animes or manga are classified as shoujo (drawings for teenage girls).
See too:
- Polygamy
- Monogamy