Sex toy? 2,000-year-old object intrigues scientists; look

A study carried out with an almost 2,000-year-old wooden artifact, found in the United Kingdom, revealed that the object, which until then was considered a tool, was used as a sex toy.

In 1992, a team of researchers made a discovery at the Roman fort of Vindolanda, located south of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. They found a wooden artifact with a phallic shape. The fort was essential for the defense of the road connecting the River Tyne to the Solway Firth, being occupied by Roman soldiers.

Originally, the object was considered a darning tool. However, in a new study led by experts from the University of Newcastle and University College Dublin, the true function of this artifact has been questioned.

History tells that, in the Roman Empire, penises were widely used as a form of protection against bad luck. At that time, small objects were used as pendants, made into phallic sculptures carved from bone or molded from metal, while decorative mosaics in homes displayed representations of phalluses.

The object found measures 15 centimeters and was next to shoes, clothing accessories, small tools and craft waste, such as leather and worked horns.

When studying the object, the researchers noticed that the edges of the artifact were smoother, indicating “repeated contact over time”.

“The size of the phallus and the fact that it was carved from wood raises a number of questions about its use,” said researcher Rob Collins, responsible for the analysis. “If the object is a sex toy, we believe it may be the oldest example from Britain. We cannot be sure of its intended use, in contrast to most other phallic objects which make symbolic use of this form for a clear function, as a good luck charm,” he added.

Although the researchers’ main hypothesis is that the object was used as a sex toy, they highlighted the existence of other possibilities. The researchers suggest that the artifact may have been used as a pestle to crush ingredients intended for the production of cosmetics or medicines.

Additionally, there is speculation that it could have been inserted into a statue that people touched to attract luck, a common practice throughout the Roman Empire.

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