Posted on 02/21/2023 5:17:16 PM PST by martin_fierro
Archaeologists excavating at the Roman fort of Vindolanda have found a phallus made of wood, which may have been a Roman sex toy from almost 2,000-years-ago.
Vindolanda (translated as “white field” or “white moor”) was a Roman auxiliary fort, situated on the fringes of the Roman Empire near Hadrian’s Wall to guard a major highway called the Stanegate.
No less than nine Roman forts were built of timber or stone at Vindolanda from around AD 85 to AD 370, creating one of the most complex archaeological sites in Britain and a unique cultural legacy of frontier life.
The phallus was initially thought to be a darning tool, as it was uncovered in a 2nd century fort ditch alongside the remains of leather shoes, dress accessories, small tools and leather waste cut-offs.
However, a new analysis by researchers from Newcastle University and University College Dublin, have now suggested that the wooden artefact is a disembodied phallus used as a sex toy, the first known example discovered anywhere in the Roman world.
The Roman’s believed that the phallus was the embodiment of a masculine generative power, and was one of the tokens of the safety of the state (sacra Romana) giving protection and good fortune.
Across the length of Hadrian’s Wall and at military installations, 59 known etchings of male genitalia, otherwise known as a fascinus or fascinum were carved at various locations to symbolise the male phallus.
They were also often depicted in painted frescoes and mosaics, or formed part of the decoration of other objects such as being embellished onto a knife handle or incised into pottery. Small, portable phalli made of bone or metal were commonly worn as pendants around the neck.
In a study published in the journal Antiquity, the researchers explore three possible explanations for the phallus’ purpose – One being a sexual implement, another as a pestle, and the third being ornamental in function which could be slotted into a statue.
Dr Rob Collins, Senior Lecturer, Archaeology, Newcastle University, explains: “The size of the phallus and the fact that it was carved from wood raises a number of questions to its use in antiquity. We know that the Romans and Greeks used sexual implements – this object from Vindolanda could be an example of one.”
Or it's a screwdriver handle.
Hope they sanded it down real well. Lots of splinters otherwise.
Splinters
Developed by an SPQR splinter group
I see what you did there.
It could serve as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.
Rope a dope— dopers with wooden pricks. Romans of the former Empire IOWs. They used wood since they couldn’t get their own up. A thought as the Goths came in and the Senate went along with them. Such was the “leadership” of the pussies in power. Not unlike today. There are 8-10 of them in our Senate right now. Starting with Romney of the magic underwear with an NSA earpiece, and a Mex Cartel to back his play, money in his offshore Panama Papers accounts. F these a@@holes. The do not rule us.
Might want to check for Roman wooden statues of Eunichs.
LMAO
Seriously how do they get phallus out of a freaking mallet. Plain stupid derivation of wannabee “archeologists” who can’t get regular people to listen to them with out a “twist”.
The Romans left all their walls and abandoned an entire Legion there to rot without pay and try to meld into the population. Such was their devotion to the “empire” that was no more.
Imagine what future historians will say about our public restroom walls
"Here I sit, broken-hearted...."
Et tu, Brute?
I studied ancient art and archeology three times in 9th and 12th grades and also at the university.
Greek, Roman, Egyptian etc. etc. and yes the way the teachers dressed things up was to talk about “fertility cults” but there were places where the walls were decorated with naked images of people and there were graven images of private parts, female breasts and so on.
My high school teacher was serious about it but the college level guy I wondered if he was getting a hit off of showing it to us.
The Bible alluded to such things the evil things like Moloch and so on.
It comes in lemon, mint, cherry or trail mix.
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