Further images
Fertility pendant modelled as an anthropomorphic, human- legged, erect phallus, with a suspension loop to the base of the shaft above the buttocks. Intact, a casting or pressure crack to the base of the loop.
In the Roman world, the phallus was commonly associated with good luck and served as a powerful symbol of fertility and of protection against malevolent forces, particularly the evil eye. Beyond simple wall carvings, more elaborate apotropaic devices, often crafted from bronze, and sometimes suspended with bells, were designed to hang in the open courtyards of houses. These mobiles, known as tintinnabula due to the tinkling sound of the bells, were animated by the wind and frequently featured phallic motifs.
Some of these phallic representations were rendered with wings and legs, transforming the organ into a creature-like form. This zoomorphic depiction may emphasize both the phallus’s perceived autonomous vitality and its association with the untamed behaviours of certain animals.
Provenance
Mr. M. Stevenson, Provence-Roussillon, France; acquired 1970s
