However, in many ways, it can also be quite similar.
While many people may believe that ancient civilizations were more ‘prudish’ or reserved about sex or sexual exploration, this isn’t strictly true.
A study published in February last year in the journal Antiquity examined a group of objects recovered in 1992, including a penis-shaped piece of wood, and questioned whether its use had been overlooked. The study stated, “Stone and metal phalli are known from across the Roman world, but the Vindolanda example is the first wooden phallus to be recognized.”
People living within the Roman Empire might not have found anything unusual about using a dildo as both a sex toy and a good luck charm. An analysis by Newcastle University and University College Dublin identified this as the first known example of a disembodied wooden phallus from the Roman world.
Rob Collins, a study co-author and archaeologist from Newcastle University, mentioned that despite the possibility of it being used as a sex toy, it is challenging to be absolutely certain.
