ARCHAEOLOGISTS have unearthed a cheeky ancient bone tool with a Greek god and his erect penis carved on it.
The shock stylus was found on the Italian island of Sicily and believed to date back to the 5th century BC, around 2,500 years ago.
Carved on it is the grumpy-faced Dionysus – one of Zeus’ sons – who is the the ancient Greek god of wine, pleasure and fertility.
But there’s an unmistakeable erect phallus etched on it too.
The way in which the bone has been carved suggests it was made to look like a herm of Dionysus, experts say.
Herms are ancient Greek sculptures which usually feature the head of a god with their private parts prominently added further down.
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These were designed to ward off evil spirits and deflect bad luck.
And the phallus wasn’t seen as something naughty like today – instead it was viewed as a powerful symbol of life force, fertility, and aggressive protection.
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So much so, the ancient greeks believed it would shock evil away.
As such, you would find them at front doors and city gates as a protective spiritual barrier.
This rare stylus was uncovered during an excavation in the city of Gela.
The pointed 5.2-inch tool would have been used to write or mark clay or wax.
Experts say it is a highly valuable and significant find.
“This stylus truly represents a unique example in the archaeological panorama of the time,” said Caltanissetta’s Superintendent of Cultural Heritage, Daniela Vullo, according to a translated statement.
“Probably used as a gift to the deity, its unique features deserve to be exhibited and returned to public use.”
A brief history of Ancient Greece
- The powerful Ancient Greek civilisation is generally regarded as emerging into the world in the 8th century BC
- They ruled over a vast part of the world for centuries and this only ended when Greece fell to the Romans in 146 BC
- The Ancient Greek Empire is well known for being sophisticated and for its connection to philosophers, artists, poets and other geniuses that still impact the world today
- It is also regarded as the time in which the concept of a city-state was officially established
- The Ancient Greeks invented the Olympics and their gods and impressive architecture are widely discussed and studied throughout the world
- Before them came Mycenaean Greece, which was the last stage of the Bronze Age in Ancient Greece and lasted from approximately 1600–1100 BC
- Mycenaen Greece perished with the Bronze Age but represents the first mainland civilisation in Greece and did influence the culture and innovations of the Ancient Greek Empire
