What does the expression "instruct horns" mean?

In many films, women's magazines and forums, you can hear the phrase "instructing the horns . " After reading it immediately there is an association with the betrayal of one spouse to another. In this case, most often the question of horns is associated with the male sex. It is noteworthy that such husbands are called "cuckolders", and the horns themselves have acquired not only verbal, but also quite real form. For example, men who became victims of the betrayal of their spouses, can often hint at this event, giving him a gift of deer horns. But is this expression so banal? Where did it come from? And does it have other interpretations?

As the expression appeared: a short digression into the history

Despite its great popularity, especially among the fair sex, the phrase "instructing the horns" Has a rather old origin. In doing so, it is known practically throughout the world. Disputes about a reliable date of its occurrence are being maintained in our time. For example, some participants in such heated discussions prove that this expression appeared in the days of the Vikings.

It is believed that when sending their spouses to war or sea voyage, the wives performed a special ritual, putting on their heads a helmet equipped with horns of animals on both sides.

Prohibition on escorting your wife

Other disputants answer the question: "Where did the expression" instruct the horns "come from?" - a slightly different version. In their opinion, this concept came to us from the distant 1472 year. It was then that a decree was issued prohibiting men from being in the army or during a battle with their wives. According to the same decree, men who violated this requirement as punishment should wear a special hat with horns for the rest of their days. Thus, all those around could learn about people who violated the law.

A peculiar manifestation of the favor of the ruler

The expression "put the horns on her husband", according to the third, appeared during the reign of the well-known Byzantine emperor Comnenus Andronicus. According to them, this ruler liked to find solace in the company of other people's wives. He was very loving and led a dissolute life. In this case, the husbands to whom their wives changed, he allowed to freely hunt in his possessions and granted special powers.

In turn, deceived men, whose spouses liked the ruler, received as a gift deer horns. They then attached them to the gates of their house, in order to confirm the position of the emperor to their person. By the way, such husbands were jokingly called "cuckolders". That's why the "horns" are directly related to the betrayal and deception of the husband.

Comparison of a deceived spouse with an animal

A little later, this expression acquired a new meaning. In this case, the deceived husband was compared to a stupid cattle or an animal with horns, because most often he was the last to learn about the betrayal of his wife. It was also customary to say such people that they would rather notice how their horns grow on their foreheads, rather than pay attention to their unfaithful wife. For the same reason, the phraseology "instructing the horns" denotes female or male betrayal.

The expression has ancient roots

Some believe that this expression came to us from a distant ancient era. For example, just such an assumption was expressed in his work "On the knees of the gods: The origins of the European thought of the soul, mind, body, time, world and destiny." The version of the researcher is related to the mystical power that the Greeks once attributed to the horns. For example, these items were used as a kind of attribute during the sacrifice of animals on the altar.

Later the horns began to be depicted above altars and sacred places. They were called "horns for initiation" and portrayed the divine connection between the sacrificed animal, the substitute itself and the creator of all terrestrial beings. Even later, the horn became associated with male dignity. And the expression "to be horned" signified male lust and love, the desire to find sexual pleasures with a large number of women. Even later, our notorious "instruct horns" appeared. Where it came from, it's difficult to say. But there are plenty of versions, as we said. So you can draw certain conclusions.

Medieval poetry and "horned men"

Recall that the horn often had an erotic or sexual overtones. This same confirmation can be found in medieval poetry. According to experts, poetry of the 13th century is famous for such comparisons. Most often it tells that a deceived man has a real horn on his forehead.

Based on these beliefs in Europe, fashion has gone to decorate the head of a deceived man with large and branched horns. This is how the crown form of the word " instructing the horns" appeared. Thus, all those around could understand how exactly such a "cuckold" was awarded to his spouse.

Horns in nature and their meaning

Interestingly, the horns themselves in nature also have some kind of sexual overtones. And the thing is that their animals are often used in the fight for the female. They also serve as an indicator of the rank that the male occupies in the pack. For example, the more he has horns, the more respectable and important his position. Horns are also often used by males when mating and in preliminary games. So, the males with their tips gently rub their partner's sides.

Why exactly deer horns?

Most often, with the word "cuckold", an association arises with reindeer horns. It is believed that every year this animal drops its horns. At the same time, until they grow new, he loses all interest in the opposite sex and does not want to mate.

Granting horns to the deceived husband, neighbors and friends not only wanted to inform him about the infidelity of his wife. With this gesture they tried to cheer the husband, instilling in him the thought of his unspent sexual power and attractiveness.

Moreover, deer horns are its pride and dignity. Therefore, changing to her husband, the wife humiliates his dignity and even insults his honor. Consequently, when certain rulers and influential personalities wanted to humiliate an unworthy man in their opinion, they gave him deer horns as a mockery.

Where did the expression "instruct the horns" come from?

In some cultures, horns were associated with sins. For the same reason, many people argued that for such and such sins the horns grew on the head of bad people. Sometimes under sins meant a betrayal of a spouse of a sexual nature.

For many peoples, the horn was associated with fertility. Therefore wearing horns testified to the fertility of a man. It was an enviable husband and father. In marriage with him, you could have a bunch of children.

In a word, the expression came to us from the distant past. It involves a sexual allusion to betrayal of her husband. At the same time, despite the differences in interpreting of some peoples, the presence of horns from a man spoke of his inattention to his woman.