A 2,000-year-old sex toy found at Vindolanda's Roman fort in Northumberland
Date: 2023-08-11 Author: Karina Ziganova Categories: NEWS 18+, BLOG 18+
There's a new archaeological discovery that everyone is talking about: a wooden penis.
That's right folks - after what is believed to be extremely careful handling and reassessment of an unusual object found over 30 years ago, researchers in Northumberland believe they may have found the only life-sized Roman sex toy known.
The phallic-shaped object, measuring about 16 centimeters (6.2 inches), was found in a ditch in 1992 at Vindolanda, south of Hadrian's Wall, along with dozens of shoes, accessories, and small tools.
Although it was originally cataloged as a "darning tool" upon its discovery, after a recent re-examination, its unusually smooth ends (indicating reuse over time) have led experts from Newcastle University and University College Dublin to believe it might be possible. , was more than just a practical tool.
"We know that the ancient Romans and Greeks used sexual tools - this object from Vindolanda could be an example of one of them," explains Dr. Rob Collins, senior lecturer in archeology at Newcastle University.
But the true purpose of this dildo is still a little hazy.
“Often in archeology, when we find an object, we can tell what it was used for, or determine what it was used for. It doesn't apply to this facility," Collins adds.
Researchers have come up with three possible theories as to what it was used for: it could have been a sex toy, a pestle for grinding ingredients for cosmetics or medicines, or a good luck charm that people touched for protection (phalluses were common in the Roman Empire because they were thought to be provide protection against bad luck).
But even if Vindolanda's phallus was intended for more innocent purposes, there's no denying that it's a fascinating find. First, it is the first known example of a disembodied wooden phallus from the Roman world.
