3 ms·

I had the question, after visiting Rome, of why so many Roman statues lacked a penis. Found this. But I'm sure that in many cases it was just due to the fact th

I had the question, after visiting Rome, of why so many Roman statues lacked a penis. Found this. But I'm sure that in many cases it was just due to the fact that appendages on statues are more easily damaged - whether nose or penis. http://ourromanadventure.blogspot.com/2009/10/where-are-all-penises.html http://ourromanadventure.blogspot.com/2009/10/where-are-all-...

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
dharmon 8y ago
I remember reading Da Vinci Code (awful book) and he (the protagonist) made this claim, that there was a "Great Demasculation" to remove penises from statues. I tried looking it up but couldn't find anything to support that this was true. But this was 2003 so information on the web wasn't as plentiful or easy to find. A simpler explanation is, as you say, that they are just more easily broken.
- duxup 8y ago
  Yeah if you're going to break a thing, internationally or not... the parts that stick out just seem easier.
- jfk13 8y ago
  As illustrated by the Specsavers ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqOwg0dqApY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqOwg0dqApY
- Bartweiss 8y ago
  On one hand, it's well-established that the Catholic Church was uncomfortable with nude art, not only in Christian works but in Roman-era 'heroic nudity'. On the other hand, the reason that's well-documented is that we know a great deal of art, including statuary, was altered by adding fig leaves and other concealments to hide nudity. I guess it's possible that lesser works were simply defaced instead of being altered, but given how much hand-wringing was devoted to altering statues, it's the sort of practice I'd expect to be well-documented, and I've never seen any evidence to that effect. I'd guess you're right: it's yet another case of Brown grabbing a random pattern and inserting meaning for it.
on_and_off 8y ago
Damn it is sad to see old statues alterated for such a stupid reason. On a tangent topic, if you have ever wondered why greek statues have so small penises : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8h8vvF7SDk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8h8vvF7SDk
sbov 8y ago
Our Vatican tour guide said they always joked that there is probably a room somewhere in there full of statue penises.
- intrasight 8y ago
  LOL. I did the "exclusive" Vatican tour last year. Totally the way to go. No waiting in line AND you get to see the pope's statue porn room. Made me realize that the best porn of the time was in marble. But no pile of penises did I see on that special tour. ;)

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

dharmon 8y ago

I remember reading Da Vinci Code (awful book) and he (the protagonist) made this claim, that there was a "Great Demasculation" to remove penises from statues. I tried looking it up but couldn't find anything to support that this was true. But this was 2003 so information on the web wasn't as plentiful or easy to find. A simpler explanation is, as you say, that they are just more easily broken.

duxup 8y ago
Yeah if you're going to break a thing, internationally or not... the parts that stick out just seem easier.
jfk13 8y ago
As illustrated by the Specsavers ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqOwg0dqApY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqOwg0dqApY
Bartweiss 8y ago
On one hand, it's well-established that the Catholic Church was uncomfortable with nude art, not only in Christian works but in Roman-era 'heroic nudity'. On the other hand, the reason that's well-documented is that we know a great deal of art, including statuary, was altered by adding fig leaves and other concealments to hide nudity. I guess it's possible that lesser works were simply defaced instead of being altered, but given how much hand-wringing was devoted to altering statues, it's the sort of practice I'd expect to be well-documented, and I've never seen any evidence to that effect. I'd guess you're right: it's yet another case of Brown grabbing a random pattern and inserting meaning for it.

on_and_off 8y ago

Damn it is sad to see old statues alterated for such a stupid reason. On a tangent topic, if you have ever wondered why greek statues have so small penises : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8h8vvF7SDk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8h8vvF7SDk

sbov 8y ago

Our Vatican tour guide said they always joked that there is probably a room somewhere in there full of statue penises.

intrasight 8y ago
LOL. I did the "exclusive" Vatican tour last year. Totally the way to go. No waiting in line AND you get to see the pope's statue porn room. Made me realize that the best porn of the time was in marble. But no pile of penises did I see on that special tour. ;)