Could This Be the First-Known Ancient Roman Dildo?

Two scholars in England and Ireland have identified what may be the first-known Ancient Roman dildo. For 40 years, the 2nd-century wooden object was considered a sewing and knitting tool. In a February 20 paper published in the journal Antiquity, Rob Sands of University College Dublin and Rob Collins of England’s Newcastle University reclassify the artifact as a large disembodied phallus. The pair also ascribe three possible uses: Dildo, pestle, or a statue attachment to be touched for good luck. If it feels like Roman phalluses have been showing up everywhere recently, it’s because they were truly everywhere in the ancient world. Romans considered the phallus a symbol of protection and good luck. People carried phallus-shaped pendants (even babies and soldiers), placed carvings of the body part on their entryway doors, and depicted them in mosaics and frescoes. A time traveler to Pompeii could expect to find stone phalluses literally extending from garden walls and oversize penises depicted in artworks. Historians first discovered the recently reclassified object in 1992 at Vindolanda, an extensive archaeological site just south of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. The fort’s unique environmental conditions have preserved a trove of ancient wood, leather, and fabric, materials that rarely survive elsewhere. In their 1992 “trench-side” identification, researchers named their newly-discovered wooden object a darning tool. Decades later, Sands stumbled across the item while studying Vindolanda’s collection of wooden artifacts. “There are a range of such tools, but in this particular example, the phallic shape is more pronounced and evident than the expected shape of a darning tool,” Collins told Hyperallergic. While there is certainly no shortage of Ancient Roman phalluses, the Vindolanda rendition is unique. “Wooden objects would have been commonplace in the ancient world, but only survive in very particular conditions — in northern Europe normally in dark, damp, and oxygen free deposit,” Sands said in a statement. The phallus is around six and half inches long. Additionally, Collins said the six-and-a-half-inch object “fits comfortably within the range of a ‘lifesize’ phallus.” Many Roman phalluses measure around half that size and are carved in relief rather than in self-standing forms. (These small portable phalli are the most common.) Collins and Sands note that the Vindolanda phallus is worn at the top and bottom, perhaps signifying repeated contact in those two areas. Given this observation, the researchers say the object may have been used as a pestle to grind food, makeup, or medicine. “It imbues that food or medicine with the magical protection drawn in and transferred through the phallic shape,” Collins explained. The wooden phallus may have also been attached to a statue or building, perhaps in an important location such as the headquarters of a commanding official where it would have have been touched by passersby hoping for extra luck and protection. This was not uncommon in Ancient Rome. Statues marking boundaries, for example, prominently featured extended phalluses. (At Vindolanda, archaeologists discovered a one-foot stone phallus that extended from a wall.) Projecting component – building (1c): In fact, one of these projecting phalluses from a building is already known from Vindolanda, carved in stone and about 1 foot in length (300 mm). It was found outside the west gate of the fort – note the different socket. pic.twitter.com/xt702qbt6F— Dr Rob Collins, FSA (@duxBritanniarum) February 20, 2023 Collins and Sands also proposed a third possibility: The object could have been used as a sex toy. Dildos are documented in Roman literature and artwork, although no verified ancient Roman dildos have been uncovered. “The Romans were not ‘prudish,'” Collins said. He pointed out a February 20 Twitter thread he wrote announcing his new research. “There were genitals, nudity, sex acts, etc. found everywhere in Roman society, in literature, in art, in humor and jokes, on the street, and most likely all aspects of life,” said Collin. He added that Ancient Roman society was multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual and encompassed a wide range of attitudes about sexuality. “So all that begs the question: Why can’t it be a dildo?” Collins asked. “We need to be open-minded about such things.” Right now, there are no comparable objects for Collins and Sands to examine next. The pairs hopes that more will be uncovered in future excavations or perhaps dusty museum collections. “This also highlights the importance of reconsidering past conclusions and interpretations,” said Collins. “We are always learning new things, and we often have new methods and breakthroughs that can be applied to past discoveries. In that regard, I think we can say this phallus — at least for us — has been a good luck charm, helping us to learn new things about the Romans, and perhaps also, ourselves.” The object is now on display at the Vindolanda Museum in Hexham, England. https://i0.wp.com/hyperallergic-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/02/Vindolanda-Wooden-Phallus-CREDIT_-Photograph-courtesy-of-The-Vindolanda-Trust..jpeg?fit=720%2C523&quality=100&ssl=1