Dildo

From Philip S. Rawson’s Primitive Erotic Art: “”In Europe through medieval times, even into the eighteenth century, it was customary for dildos (called ‘love gods’ or ‘love birds’), which were roughly shaped as phallic-headed birds, to be sold openly in markets.”

From Claude J. Summers’ The Queer Encyclopedia of the Visual Arts, “The English word “dildo” is first recorded around 1592, in a poem by John Nashe. John Donne in his licentious elegies also refers to dildos. In the eighteenth century, Fuseli drew a woman wearing one.”

There are some references to the use of dildos by women in the Middle Ages, in particular, this one in a Church “penitential,” a book that prescribes punishments for sins.

“Have you done what certain women are accustomed to do, that is to make some sort of device or implement in the shape of the male member of a size to match your sinful desire? If you have done this, you shall do penance for five years on legitimate holy days.”

The word dildo was not actually used until the Renaissance period, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, but one fanciful explanation of its origin was a small elongated loaf of bread flavored with dill, thus “dilldough.”

One writer in the renaissance period referred to the popularity of dildos imported from Italy:

   You ladies all of merry England
   Who have been to kiss the Duchess' hand,
   Pray, did you not lately observe in the show
   A noble Italian called Signor Dildo? ...

   A rabble of pricks who were welcomed before,
   Now finding the porter denied them the door,
   Maliciously waited his coming below
   And inhumanly fell on Signor Dildo ... 

Galeria

• Fallusy
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  Rzeźba w kształcie penisa z epoki kamienia

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  Dildo znalezione w klasztorze, (XVIII wiek)

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  Drewniane dildo w szkatule wyłożonej skórą, (XVIII wiek)