Statuettes of pregnant women touching their vulvas have been found in Egypt. In Greek art, depictions of the vulva – believed to boost female fertility – are only found on objects intended for women. In all these different forms, the phallus was always synonymous with strength, happiness and prosperity.
Phallic scarecrows were thought to be apotropaic (able to ward off evil), and Greeks and Romans wore bronze penis-shaped pendants. Erect penises made of wood or clay were also installed on street corners and at the entrances to stores and houses.Ī sign found over the entrance of a bakery in Pompeii shows a fascinus, framed by an inscription proclaiming “Here dwells happiness” ( Hic habitat felicitas ). This is why the Athenians held the annual Dionysia festival, where a solemn procession of citizens called phallophoroi carried giant carved wooden phalluses. Hic habitat Felicitas, ‘Here dwells happiness,’ terracotta relief, 1st century AD. Believed to have magical powers, it was exhibited and worshipped as an idol capable of protecting the city and its inhabitants from harm, and putting thieves and intruders to flight. The vulva was lost to censorship.īy contrast, the phallus – phallos in Greek or fascinus in Latin – was revered. Gods and heroes flaunt their penises, but goddesses tend to be robed even when nude, like Aphrodite, they have perfectly smooth pubic triangles, with no clitoris or labia. Artists often depicted the phallus, but the vulva is almost nowhere to be seen. The vulva fell out of favor in the ancient Greek and Roman world. ( Brooklyn Museum ) In Greece and Rome: The Vulva Vanishes Hathor, bronze statuette, 8th century BC. Ra laughed joyfully at the sight and recovered all his dazzle. Fortunately, the beautiful goddess Hathor had the bright idea of undressing in front of him and showing her vulva. The sun god Ra was the source of light on Earth, but he sometimes showed signs of weakness, endangering all of humankind. In ancient Egypt, the vulva was seen as a source of happiness and regeneration. The vulva plays a positive role in this story it is complementary to the phallus, equally necessary to the fertilization of the land. They make love, and when Dumuzi ejaculates, plants are seeded all around and begin to grow. Ishtar’s royal lover answers, “I, Dumuzi the King, will plow your vulva.” At fever pitch of excitement, the goddess cries, “Then plow my vulva, man of my heart!” The oxen pulling the plow refer to the king’s phallus the vulva represents the ground to be sown. The goddess addresses her lover as follows :ĭetail of ancient Mesopotamian so-called "Ishtar Vase", terracotta with cut, molded, and painted decoration, from Larsa, early 2nd millennium BC.
No wonder, then, that the Nana brand’s “Viva la Vulva” campaign is causing a stir. In contrast, vulval symbols are conspicuous by their absence. Male statues have been flaunting their (fairly realistic) penises in public parks for centuries, and Perrier often centers its ads on phallic-shaped bottles. Images of male genitalia in art and advertising rarely cause a stir – we’re used to them. What explains this difference in treatment? Yet in a cultural context in France, phallic symbols rarely cause a fuss. In September 2019, a French ad for feminine hygiene products featuring taboo-breaking representations of vulvas and menstruation sparked controversy.
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