It’s been a long time since the first dildos graced our lives. However, there’s no doubt that they are part of the mainstream sex culture these days. You can practically get them in almost any store around you. It’s safe to say that they’re everywhere, and they come in all sizes and unthinkable shapes.
These penis-shaped sexual gadgets are probably the most recognizable adult toy alongside they’re vibrating cousins. Made from wood, plastic, ceramic, and many more materials, dildos offer an endless array of possibilities. But when did the first dildo come about? Moreover, what were they like, and who used them?
Our article aims to explore the rich history behind the world’s most famous sex toy. We’ll cover its origin, early purpose, and its current state in the next couple of minutes. Therefore, stay put and don’t go anywhere. It’s about to get very interesting!
The Origins of the Dildo
It’s a well-known fact that dildos are almost as old as the first human civilizations. The word we use today comes from the Latin word “dilatare,” which means open wide. Moreover, this translates to the Italian word “diletto,” standing for delight. The term was introduced way back in 1400 AD, and it’s still in use today in its modern variant — dildo.
There’s still some controversy surrounding the modern toy. Although we know that the late 19th century brought us the dildo we love, there is still some debate as to where it originated. Some say it comes from England, while others say it’s a United States invention that found its commercial use in Europe.
Either way, we know doctors would use it to “cure” female hysteria back in the day. They would massage the clitoris (See how to touch your clit), thinking that stimulation of women’s genitals would help them relax and feel relief. Sure, the 1800s were a weird time, so there’s no use in calling them perverts more than doctors for using the dildo as a medical device.
The Earliest Known Sex Toy
Back in 2005, a team of German scientists uncovered the earliest known dildo. In Swabia, inside the Hohle Fels Cave, a stunning 20 cm stone phallus waited for a lucky soul to find it and shine a light on it once more. They say it’s around 28000 years old, meaning it predates all the previous phallic archeological pieces we know of.
The stone toy is polished, which leads the scientists to believe it was in use back in the day. It has a shaped head of the penis that also makes it pretty realistic. Another interesting fact is that representations of male genitals from that period are scarce.
There were lots of depictions of female genitalia, though. They were usually related to fertility. Male batons were not commonly seen in artifacts and depictions until Ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Roman times. Either way, you can see the artifact in Blabeuren Prehistoric Museum if you ever travel to Germany.
Changing With the Times
Although we now know the dildo as a phallic-shaped sex toy meant for insertion, it had various shapes throughout history. Sure, it always represented the male genitals, but its use was not always for sexual practices. So, let’s check some landmark dildos from our history.
Back in prehistoric times, dildos were usually two-headed. These twins date anywhere from 13–19,000 years ago. Later on, in ancient Egypt, some 3,000 years BC, sex toys were in use for all sorts of things. From rituals to self-pleasuring, you can see pictures of people with dongs in various poses and situations.
And in medieval times, people would use a plant (Cantonese groin) and soak it with water to make them grow and become firm enough for women to place them inside their genitals for sexual pleasure. But before that, in Ancient Greece, sometime before the 5th century BC, men and women would play around with penis-like breadsticks. They would call these artificial phalluses — “olisbokollikes.”
Various Sources and Practices
But when it comes to more modern times, Italians would make wooden, stone, or leather dildos in the 15th century. They were similar to the ones found in China from the same period, which were also wooden but with precise textures. Chinese women were sometimes even buried with their sexual aids.
As far as the Far East goes, dildos appeared in 17th- and 18th-century Japan. In shunga erotic novels, women would joyfully buy and play with them constantly. These Japanese sex toys would usually come from water buffalo horns. But sexual pleasure and perversions weren’t the only reason for their existence.
Some Ice Age batons (40,000 to 1,000 BCE) and Roman artificial phalluses would be part of defloration rituals (See these deflorations tips). Moreover, Pakistani people would use them to worship Shiva in religious practices. Therefore, it’s clear that dildos have a deeper root in human history and civilizations just as much as female breasts and genitals.
Acceptance of the Dildo Into the Mainstream
The evolution of dildos is an interesting one. Starting as a ritual tool, then being used for medical treatment, to finally becoming a staple of the adult industry. But to say that the ride was easy would be an understatement. At one point, the public opinion on dildos and sex toys wasn’t as graceful, to say the least.
It wasn’t until the ’90s that people would start openly talking about going to sex shops and using adult gadgets for self-pleasure. That was mainly due to the way the mainstream portrayed kinks and fetishes as somewhat deviant and unacceptable. Unfortunately, in some parts of the globe, it’s still like that.
But in the West, sex isn’t that taboo anymore. You can see adult toys even in Walmart these days. It’s like everyone came to the realization of their full potential. So, they sell them alongside everyday products. Once again, sex sells. Everyone enjoys it, so there’s no point in putting restrictions on something benign as masturbation.
Nevertheless, dildos are part of human history just as much as anything else. They’re as old as human civilization itself. Sure, no longer do we use them on virgins during rituals, but they somehow find a way in almost every household. Whether it’s young people experimenting with their bodies or bored housewives, they’re here, and they’re not going away.
