Phallic symbols in art and religion

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

No one really thinks about it, but our whole life is directly connected with the symbols that surround us. Some people treat them neutrally, while others arrange a cult of them, sometimes reaching fanaticism. A whole world of symbols around us. They are in all spheres of life, from TV shows and movies to religious ceremonies. We must not forget about the poetic form, where each essay often has a subtext in addition to the main meaning. And a double meaning is one of the main characteristics necessary to determine the true essence. It would seem that objects that are ordinary at first glance actually carry a completely different symbolism and subtext. Hermann Hesse, for example, believed that every phenomenon on earth is a symbol, and through it the soul penetrates into our world.

Images with a phallic meaning were popular among most nationalities, on all continents of our planet, therefore, creators (painters, sculptors, writers) often used them in their works.

Phallic symbols - what are they?

To themone can include images and objects that can evoke associations with both male (phallus) and female (kteis) fertilizing organs. However, one should not limit such symbols to elongated and standing objects, as many authors studying this issue do. Since the reproductive function is one of the most important for a person, respectively, and many peoples, their cultures revere everything that is directly or indirectly related to this process. In almost any religion in the world, you can find symbols that are similar or directly depict the phallus or other genital organs. This feature has not bypassed the seemingly righteous Christianity.

Prehistoric phallic symbols

The first information about the use of phallic symbols refers us to the Neolithic times, the post-glacial period. The drawings found in caves on the territory of modern France depicted phalluses, symbolizing male power and the basis of the family. According to the data of the examination, these drawings are about 30 thousand years old. Images from the Bronze Age have been found in Sweden, which clearly distinguish a hunter with clearly exaggerated genitals.

In Zimbabwe, a drawing of a huge penis was discovered with a straight line stretching along and turning into a lily flower, which, according to historians, symbolized sexual intercourse and procreation. As these finds show, phallic symbols of antiquity were used in art and everyday life throughout our planet, despite the lack of contacts and connections between continents.

Phallus Symbols in Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt and Rome

The birth of modern civilization began in the Mediterranean region, at the source of the Nile, the most fertile part of Egypt. The cult of the phallus was quite popular in ancient Egyptian mythology and is represented by the deities Min, Amon Ra and Asiris. There were legends about the size of the penis of the pharaohs. Some phallic symbols can be found in the expositions of the local history museum in Cairo.

Many artifacts from the era of Ancient Greece have survived: sculptures in the form of a phallus erected in honor of the god Dionysus, as well as images of celebrations in his honor. Also, sculptures of Priapus, the demon god, the main representative of phallic symbolism in this ancient culture, have survived to this day. Often, the reproductive organ of Priapus was depicted as being longer than his body, thus showing his power. Sculptures were erected in honor of him, representing a long stone block with the head of a bearded man and a long penis. Later, the phallic traditions of the Hellenes migrated to Ancient Rome, where such images and artifacts acquired the magical power of amulets. According to legend, they averted the evil eye and protected from evil otherworldly forces. Almost every yard had a similar totem.

Slavic culture

Phallic symbols among the Slavs can be found in almost every pagan deity. In addition, they were widely used in rituals. They were perceived by the Slavs as amulets. Sometimes a talisman in the form of a phallus was hung on the gate and, according tothe owner's opinion, helped in the development of the household. Even the Russian word for "luck" has the Old Slavic root "ud", which corresponds to the name of the ancient god responsible for the successful fulfillment of love contacts. God Ud was depicted in the drawings with another erotic sign - a viburnum wreath, a symbol of virginity and chastity. The wreath was pierced by the horns of Ud, which meant the first sexual contact. Souvenir phalluses in the territory of Ancient Russia were made from different materials. Bronze was especially honored.

Another tradition of the pagans was the baking of Easter cakes. The shape of such a product resembled a male reproductive organ with a characteristic hat on the top, filled with white sugar icing (similar to a male seed). Kulich was sprinkled with grain, which symbolized fertility and the awakening of nature. Often, such pastries were supplemented with colored eggs, which in the complex lined up in a clear symbol of the male reproductive organ. It was Easter cake after the baptism of Russia that passed from the pagan to the Christian tradition, actually retaining its original meaning.

The role of symbols in Christianity

Having replaced paganism in Kievan Rus, Christianity, however, absorbed many phallic symbols of the Slavic gods. At the same time, they also brought their own. Phallic symbols in Christianity can be found at every turn. For example, the dome that crowns the Orthodox and Catholic churches is nothing more than a symbol of the uncircumcised phallus (as among the Jews). Worth seeing andon the classical structure of Christian churches, where the base is similar to the scrotum, and the high part resembles the phallus. It should be noted that at the dawn of Christianity, Jesus was depicted with genitals. A good example is the Merovingian Terracotta from the Museum of Saint-Germain, depicting Jesus with a penis. At the same time, he holds a spear in one hand and the moon in the other and defeats evil, represented in the form of a serpent. The other main symbol that every Christian should have is the cross. According to legend, it was also a sign of the reproductive organ. In addition to hidden symbols, open images of phalluses were also used in Christianity, for example, in the decoration of some Catholic churches in Spain, the Czech Republic, and France. Also, with the development of pilgrimage to holy places, phallic symbols appeared in commemorative badges offered by monks.

Declining popularity of phallic symbols

With the onset of the Reformation, this cult lost its popularity. Phallic symbols in art became less common. Sexuality was tabooed, and all references to the phallus in works of fine art were tried to be painted over, and the genitals on the sculptures were covered with fig leaves. Many scientists of those times condemned sexuality and were ashamed of the mention of its attributes in culture. This ban lasted for about 200 years, and during this time many works of art were remade, but not all of them could then be restored to their original form.

Freud and the revival of the culture of sexuality

One of those people who lifted the taboos on the topic of sexuality was the famous German psychologist Sigmund Freud. He believed that human thoughts are transformed into images and symbols. Phallic symbols, according to Freud, take place in almost any subject. They, along with other unconscious images, often appear in sexual forms. Many consider Freud's theory to be erroneous and untenable, but the resonance that it left in society clearly influenced contemporary art and society as a whole, rediscovering sexuality and eliminating the taboo placed on phallic symbols.

Modernity

In our time, phallic symbols are not something shameful and are used everywhere. They can be found in modern painting, sculpture, literature. Many artists try to shock the public by using images of the genitals in their installations. Such a form of phallic art as a nude performance appeared, where the main canvas for art is the person himself, and the direct demonstration of the genitals is nothing more than an expression of one's emotions through the symbols of body parts. Also images of phalluses and their symbols are sold as various souvenirs in many countries, especially in the Asian region.