The grotesquely large phallus belongs to the fertility god Priapus, a tragic figure in Roman mythology.
ancient Rome
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Why Did Roman Baths Disappear?
New research contests the myth that it was Christianity’s opposition to public nudity that led to the decline in large-scale bathing in the late Roman Empire.
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Ancient Romans Snacked on Pizza at the Colosseum
An archeological exploration of the amphitheater’s sewers and water systems uncovered remnants of meat, vegetables, olives, nuts, and yes, pizza.
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Disgruntled American Tourist Smashes Roman Busts at the Vatican
The 65-year-old man was reportedly angry that he was not granted a meeting with the Pope.
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2,000-Year-Old Hercules Statue Unearthed in Greece
The statue was found in a town square in Philippi and adorned a building that may have been a public fountain in the Byzantine period.
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Ancient Roman Mosaic in Danger of Falling Into the Sea
The floor mosaic is part of a 50-dwelling Roman villa built in the second century on a cliff in Kent that is in danger of falling into the sea.
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“Unusually Large” Roman-Era Stone Phallus Impresses Archaeologists
The discovery confirms that it’s not the length of the history that matters, so much as its breadth.
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Met Exhibition Brings Back the Color to Ancient Sculptures
Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color reminds us, once again, that our view of the ancient world is whitewashed.
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1,700-Year-Old Penis Graffiti Found at Ancient Roman Site
A stone was carved with a phallus and the words “Secundinus, the shitter.”
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Woman Finds 2,000-Year-Old Roman Bust at a Texas Goodwill
The sculpture, which she bought for $34.99, is now on view at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
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Pompeii Heats Up With a New Exhibition of Erotic Art
The show encompasses 70 works from the archeological site’s vast troves, including the famous “Leda and the Swan” fresco recovered in 2018.
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These Stunning Roman Mosaics Were Hidden Under Croatian Streets
Archaeologists discovered the mosaic floors during excavations before the city began construction on sewage and water pipes.