Discovered in a ditch at Vindolanda, a wooden phallus may have been used for sexual intercourse by Romans. 2,000-year-old Roman wooden tool likely a dildo.
Seven-inch-long (17 centimeters) phallus was first discovered in 1992, and it was thought to be used in several ways, including as a pestle or a good-luck charm to ward off evil, which was widespread across the Empire and was commonly believed to be a way to protect against bad luck. However, a recent study shows that it is more than a “charm.”
Using 3D scans, it was discovered that the object’s two ends were smoother than the remainder of the piece, indicating that it had been frequently used over time, according to the study.
As stated by Newcastle University, another hypothesis is that the item may have been used as a pestle, to ground components for food, or to make cosmetics or medications. Its shape would have given the food or substances being cooked the appearance of having magical abilities, while its size may have made it simple to hold in hand.2,000-year-old Roman wooden tool likely a dildo.
“This rediscovery shows the real legacy value of having such an incredible collection of material from one site and being able to reassess that material. The wooden phallus may well be currently unique in its survival from this time, but it is unlikely to have been the only one of its kind used at the site, along the frontier, or indeed in Roman Britain,” said Barbara Birley, curator at the Vindolanda Trust.
