Dionysus Stylus: Ancient Sicily Reveals Phallic Depiction
- Archaeologists in southern Sicily have uncovered an ancient bone tool depicting the god Dionysus and his erect phallus.
- "This stylus truly represents a unique exmaple in the archaeological landscape of the time," Daniela Vullo, head of the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Caltanissetta, the...
- The stylus - a pointed instrument used for writing on or marking clay or wax - measures 5.2 inches (13.2 centimeters) long and was carved out of bone.
Archaeologists in southern Sicily have uncovered an ancient bone tool depicting the god Dionysus and his erect phallus. The exquisite workmanship helps date the artifact to the fifth century B.C., when the island was a Greek colony.
“This stylus truly represents a unique exmaple in the archaeological landscape of the time,” Daniela Vullo, head of the Superintendency for Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Caltanissetta, the municipality where the artifact was found, said in a translated statement.
The stylus – a pointed instrument used for writing on or marking clay or wax – measures 5.2 inches (13.2 centimeters) long and was carved out of bone. A grumpy-looking male head decorates the top of the stylus, while the middle section features an erect penis. These characteristics suggest the stylus was carved to look like a herm of Dionysus, according to the statement.