Ancient artifacts may actually just be the famous Roman dildo, experts say

An object found in Britain 30 years ago may be the only surviving Roman-era dildo, archaeologists say.

The 6.2-inch trephallus was discovered in 1992 after spending nearly 2,000 years buried at the site of the Roman fort of Vindolanda near Hadrian’s Wall, the ancient barrier that once demarcated the northern border of the northwestern border of the Roman Empire, in northern England. Initially, the artifact was registered as a stopping tool – but now experts have re-evaluated the device as likely to have a more infuriating purpose.

“This is the first known carved trephallus of this size, not just from Roman Britain but the entire Roman world, as far as we know,” said Dr Rob Collins, senior lecturer in archeology at Newcastle University in north-east England. The Telegraph. “If the phallus is a sex object, then it would also be the first known sex object from the Roman Empire.

“Important here is that we know from Roman art and literature that sex objects, more specifically dildos, were made and used. But until now we have not had any physical samples of such objects.”

The phallus was found along with dozens of shoe and dress accessories which may partly explain why it was originally thought to have been used as a stopping tool. But academics from Newcastle University and University College Dublin who reassessed the object believe three other explanations are more likely.

Although a sexual application is one of these explanations, it is possible that it was used for violence. “Sometimes they (dildos) weren’t always used for pleasure,” Collins said Guardian. “They can be instruments of torture, so I’m very conscious of using the term ‘sex toy.'” Hopefully that’s what it was used for. It’s the most exciting and exciting possibility.

“If that’s the case, it would be, as far as we know, the first Roman dildo encountered from archaeology. We know from Greek and Roman poetry and Greek and Roman art that they used dildos. But we haven’t found any archaeological examples that are exciting in themselves.”

The researchers, who published their findings in Antiquity journal, also theorized that the object may have been part of a larger construction such as a statue. It is possible that the phallus went into a figure that people would then touch for good luck, which was a common practice in the Roman Empire.

They also speculated that it may have been used as a pestle to grind ingredients to be used in cooking, cosmetics or medicine. Evidence suggests that the object was smoothed at both ends, indicating that both ends were probably used for something.

The researchers also say the object, made from young ash wood, was probably larger when used in Roman times, as archaeological wood is “prone to shrinking and warping.”