Terracotta Ritual Phallus

A glimmer of light into the lives of a vanished people can often be seen through the objects they have left behind for posterity. Especially when the image is as recognizable and powerful as this phallus. Apart from male dominance and its many implications, the erect male member stands for the all-important issue of fertility and procreation. In many societies a man needs a child, not only to pass on his legacy, but also to offer prayers once he has passed into the spirit world. For this purpose a phallus was made to represent the ultimate in virility, and used in ritual ceremonies in order to heighten sexuality, or perhaps as a cure for impotency. It is in fact very skillfully created and intended to be realistic, with its veins exposed and ribbing near the fold. A hole through the center adds to the realism and may have had a specific purpose in the ceremony. Pebbles placed inside the hollow testicles turns it into a variety of musical instrument. Men dancing in frenzy, rattling these grand objects must have made a very impressive spectacle! L.25.2cm(9 3/4IN) – (PF.4456)