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oticism were an integral part of ancient Roman
art and culture. This unusual creation known as
the polyphallus is a fantastical composite winged
penis. Presumably, it functioned as a symbol of
fertility and sexual potency. The Greek
inscription which runs across the top of the
panel can be translated as ‘friendly neighbour.’
Although surviving representations of the
polyphallus on stone panels are very rare, they
also appear on bronze bells, known as
tintinnabulum. In this context their purpose was
partly to ward off the evil eye. It was not
uncommon in the Roman art for phalluses to be
transformed into animals by the addition of legs,
tails and wings. This may be related to the idea
of the independence of this organ, often much
less under its owner’s control than he might
wish. On another level it was no doubt intended
to be amusing and light-hearted.
Here, the hybrid penis/bird is depicted in profile,
standing to the right on a pair of bird legs,
complete with talons. A naturalistically rendered
phallus takes the place of the body, complete
with another penis in between its legs and a
phallic tail. Two large wings with carefully
detailed feathers emerge from the centre of the
penis’ back. A second tail, this one the thin wavy
type generally associated with quadrupeds such
as cats and dogs, rises upwards from the
creatures back, in between the wings and the
other phallic tail. Carved from grey marble this
panel may once have been part of a building,
perhaps advertising a brothel or similar
institution. Stone panels depicting phalluses have
been unearthed at Pompeii and Herculaneum, set
into walls and even the pavement. None of these
however are of the spectacular winged variety
evident here.
References: M.Grant, Eros in Pompeii, The Erotic
Collection of The Museum of Naples, (London,
1975) and C. Johns, Sex or Symbol? Erotic
Images of Greece and Rome, (London, 1982).
- (X.0140)
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