Wooden phallus found in Roman fort may be 1,800-year-old sex toy

Reassessment, however, has pegged the artefact as “the first-known example of a non-miniaturised, disembodied phallus made of wood in the Roman world.” 

According to the researchers, phalluses were common symbols across the Roman empire, appearing in mosaics and painted frescoes, being crafted into pendants made from bone or metal and appearing as decorative elements on items from knives to pieces of pottery. For the Romans, the penis represented strength and vitality, and thus its imitation was believed to confer good luck.

However, the fresh analysis of the Vindolanda phallus suggests that its role may have gone beyond being a lucky charm — as the researchers found that both ends of the phallus were noticeably smoother than the rest of the object, indicating repeated contact over time.

The experts have proposed three possible interpretations of the phallus’ purpose, the first being as a rudimentary dildo.

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1737076/wooden-phallus-roman-fort-vindolanda-1800-year-old-dildo-sex-toy