An ancient Roman wooden phallus found buried in a ditch was likely used for sexual purposes and is now on display at a museum in England.
A wooden phallus found in a ditch at Vindolanda, a Roman auxiliary fort in central England, may have been used for sexual purposes, new research suggests.
Archaeologists unearthed the roughly 7-inch-long phallus in 1992 and suspected that it could have been used a number of ways, including as a pestle or a good-luck charm to"ward off evil." However, a more recent analysis using 3D scans of the object revealed that both ends were worn smooth compared to the rest of the piece, indicating that it had been touched repeatedly over time, according to the study, published Feb. 20 in the journal Antiquity .
The object is likely the"first known example of a non-miniaturized disembodied phallus made of wood in the Roman world" and was one of numerous items discarded in a second century A.D. ditch, including shoes and dress accessories, small tools, and craft waste items, like scraps of leather and worked antlers, according to a statement. Over the years, archaeologists have suggested a number of possible purposes for the object.
"The size of the phallus and the fact that it was carved from wood raises a number of questions about its use in antiquity," first author Robert Collins, a senior lecturer in the department of archaeology at Newcastle University in England, said in a statement."We cannot be certain of its intended use, in contrast to most other phallic objects that make symbolic use of that shape for a clear function, like a good luck charm.
"We know that the ancient Romans and Greeks used sexual implements — this object from Vindolanda could be an example of one," Collins said.—King Tut's mummified erect penis may point to ancient religious strugglePhalli were commonplace in the Roman Empire and were depicted in painted frescoes and mosaics, or even as embellishments on pottery or as carved knife handles. Smaller pieces carved out of bone or stone could also be worn around the neck as jewelry.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Eva Mendes, 48, Reveals Her Affordable Secret to Smooth Skin From Head to ToeEva Mendes Says ‘Nothing Beats’ These Exfoliating Mitts for Smooth Skin
Read more »
Derek Carr’s brother David peels back curtain on bitter Raiders split as Jets pursue QBThe end of Derek Carr’s tenure with the Raiders was anything but smooth.
Read more »
Scientists think they found a 2,000-year-old dildo in ancient Roman ruinsA nearly 2,000-year-old penis-shaped wooden object might have been a sex toy used by ancient Romans in Britain. It's almost seven inches long.
Read more »
Why the MCU's Hercules Uses His Roman Name (Despite Being a Greek God)While his worshipers originally knew him as Herakles, the strongest Avenger now goes by Hercules - however, neither is his actual name.
Read more »
Ancient Artifact Might Actually Be Only Known Roman Dildo, Experts SayThe wooden phallus was previously thought to be a darning tool.
Read more »
Powerful Antenna for NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Clears Environmental TestsEngineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, have finished testing the high-gain antenna for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. When it launches by May 2027, this NASA observatory will help unravel the secrets of dark energy and dark matter, search for and image exopla
Read more »