This explanation of Galen’s to the effect that the φοινικίζων (one who phoenicizes) resembles the man who drinks menstrual blood, shows clearly that φοινικίζειν is _not_, as all the Lexicons give it, and _Forbiger_ (loco citato) also assumes, identical with λεσβιάζειν. It is true _Forbiger_ (p. 329. Note v.) gives the meaning _cunnilingere_ as well, although the explanation is undoubtedly unsatisfactory which he offers _à propos_ of an Epigram,[61]—one certainly apposite in this connection, to the effect that the reason for this signification is, _quod cunnilingos a natando in mari quodam Phoenicei coloris (mari rubro) dixissent_, (that they had called them _cunnilingues_ from their swimming as it were in a sea of Phoenician purple colour—a red sea); for the words in the Epigram, ἐν φοινίκῃ δὲ καθεύδεις (but you sleep in Phoenicia) cannot stand for anything else but simply φοινικίζειν, as indeed the passage from _Aloisia Sigaea_, which is quoted by Forbiger himself, proves conclusively[62]: _Cum vellet mediam lambere, se velle dicebat in Liguriam_, (When he wanted to lick my middle, he used to say he would fain _be into Liguria_—that is, would fain lick, _ligurire_). Accordingly just as λεσβιάζειν came into use as the distinctive name for the vice of the _fellator_, because it was practised to a distinctive degree in Lesbos, so too to be a _cunnilingue_ was called φοινικίζειν, because the habit was at home among the Phoenicians. Undoubtedly men’s shamelessness was carried so far that they actually used women and girls at their period of menstruation for this purpose,—a fact of the highest interest for us, as we shall show directly. _Seneca_[63] expresses himself plainly enough on the subject: “Quid tu, cum Mamercum Scaurum consulem faceres, ingnorabas, _ancillarum suarum menstruum ore illum hiante exceptare_? num quid enim ipse dissimulabat? num quid purus videri volebat?” (How came it you were ignorant, when making Mamercus Scaurus consul, _that he was in the habit of catching in his open mouth the menstrual discharge of his maidservants_? Did he make any concealment of it himself? did he pose as a pure-minded man? nay! not he). Again in another place[64]:
“Nuper Natalis tam improbae linguae quam impurae, _in cuius ore feminae purgabantur_.” (Quite lately Natalis showed himself as malignant of tongue as he is unchaste, _into whose mouth women were used to purge themselves_).