Archaeologists in southern Sicily have discovered an ancient bone tool depicting the god Dionysus and his erect phallus. Intricate workmanship dates the artifacts to the 5th century BC, when the island was a Greek colony.
“This needle represents a unique example in the archaeological context of its time,” Daniela Vullo, head of the Cultural and Environmental Heritage Supervision Office of Caltanissetta, the municipality where the artifacts were discovered, said in a translated statement.
A stylus was a pointed tool used for writing or making marks in clay or wax, 5.2 inches (13.2 centimeters) long, and carved from bone. A grumpy man’s head adorns the top of the stylus, and the center section depicts an erect penis. The statement said these features suggest the hands were carved to look like the goddess Dionysus.
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A hermus was an ancient Greek sculpture, usually made of an upright stone block, often featuring only a carved head and male genitals. Helms were used to ward off evil and were usually placed at crossroads, borders, borders, and in front of temples. The term may derive from the sculpture’s association with Hermes, the messenger god also associated with fertility.
Archaeologists discovered this needle during excavations in the city of Gela. They believe that the stylus may have been used by potters to mark pottery before someone dedicated it as a gift to the gods.
“Due to its unique characteristics, this work deserves to be exhibited and made available for the public to enjoy,” Vullo said.
In addition to the stylus, archaeologists have uncovered a large area dating back to the Hellenistic period (4th century BC to 1st century BC), which is still being excavated.
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