ANDROGYNE

ANDROGYNE; or Androgynus, an Hermaphrodite; something born with two Sexes, being Male and Female in the same Person.
See HERMAPHRODITE.
Many of the Rabbins are of opinion, that Adam was created Androgynous; that he was Male on one Side, and Female on the other; and that he had even two Bodies, the one of a Man, and the other of a Woman: so that God, to create Eve, only separated those two from each other. See SEX.
Plato tells us, that in the Beginning People were born double, and with both Sexes; but that this Duplicity of Members, giving them too much Strength and Vigour, they became insolent, and even declared War against the Gods.—Upon which, Jupiter, to tame their Pride, split each of them into two; but so as that each Moiety still retained a strong Passion to be re-united: and hence that Philosopher derives the natural Love between the two Sexes.



The Astrologers also give the Appellation Androgynus to such of the Planets as are sometimes hot, and sometimes cold; as Mercury, which is reputed hot and dry when near the Sun, and cold and moist when near the Moon. The Word comes from the Greek ἀνδρόγυνος, Male and Female.

ANDROGYNE