2,000-year-old sex toy identified in England

An artifact found in 1992 at the Roman fort Vindolanda in the United Kingdom may not be a sewing tool, but a sex toy that has been preserved for 2,000 years. Rereading of the phallic object published Monday in the journal Science (20) ancient agesreveals through 3D scans, heavy use of both ends, which made them smoother than the rest of the set.

The 17-centimeter piece was designed as a patch tool, as it juxtaposes with dozens of shoe and dress accessories, as well as small craft tools and utensils. All this material, along with the leftover leather and carved antlers, would have been dumped in the castle’s ditch in the second century.

The size of the phallus and the fact that it was carved from wood raises a number of questions about its use in ancient times, said Rob Collins, professor of archeology at Newcastle University and first author of the paper. “We can’t be sure of its intended use.” However, he acknowledges that the ancient Romans and Greeks used “sexual implements.”

Popularity of Phallus in the Roman Empire

According to the research, phallic representations in two or three dimensions were part of the daily life of the Romans. This preference is normally explained by both an erotic aesthetic, magical functions, and even apotropism, that is, rituals and symbols to ward off misfortune, illness, or any other spell.

However, based on possible evidence of use over time through a review of other archaeological and contextual information, the authors reinterpreted the phallic object of Vindolanda – the first wooden object to be officially recognized as a life-size accessory for use as a sexual instrument.

According to the team, another perspective suggests that the tool may have been used both for grinding culinary spices and as ingredients for medical or cosmetic treatments. Finally, a third plausible function would be to fit an existing statue for passers-by to touch for good luck.