Penis in Art and Religion

The penis has long been a part of religion and art. Phallic symbols were very common with the Mayans and Incan civilizations. Ancient earth-based religions that are even still practiced to this day often feature phallic celebration and worship. The reason behind this is that the penis is a symbol of fertility and reproduction. In ancient times, people didn’t have as much technology as we do today. They lived in harmony with the earth and the seasons.

They understood what needed to be done to create life, and this was a sacred and ritualistic thing. The penis was essential for creating life, and ensuring the survival of the people. This led to the worship of phallic symbols, in order to gain a good favor from the Gods. Gaining good favor to these people meant that healthy babies would be born, and their lines could continue.

In order to please the Gods, people created phallic symbols for celebrations and fertility rites. Some experts claim that celebrations that are common today were based on ancient fertility customs. For example, Easter is one of the holidays that is said to be based upon fertility customs. Being close to the beginning of Spring, Easter arrives at the same time that animals in the wild deliver their young. Eggs are hatching, flowers are growing, and the earth is in full ‘child birth.’ Easter even features eggs, a huge fertility symbol among ancient nature based religions.

A common symbol of today that is claimed to be based on fertility symbols is the Maypole. This is a pole that is constructed around Springtime, and is usually covered with long ribbons that dancers grasp. These dancers dance around the Maypole to bring in May day. In ancient times, the Maypole was a phallic symbol, and the maidens which were at the age of impending marriage would dance around the Maypole to attract a suitor. This has long been forgotten by many, however, in some religions this custom still exists.

Phallic symbolism has been present in art since the very beginning. Being such an important thing to the survival of people, ancient civilizations would often worship it. This led to penis carvings, pictures, and sculptures. In fact, the oldest phallic symbol in art that is known is over 28,000 years old. It was found in the Hohle Fels Cave.
Phallic references can be found in ancient literature, even in Shakespeare. He often used phallic symbols in his writing. Often times, swords or knives were used to represent penises. The size of the sword or knife would also often relate to how masculine the man who wielded it was. A good example of this would be in the play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ In the play, Theseus is speaking to his fiancé, Hippolyta, and says, “I wooed thee with my sword.”

There is no wonder that we will find penises in religion and in art, considering the importance of the penis in society. In ancient times, and today, the penis is a symbol of life and creation. It is an important factor in the process of reproduction, and in the survival of the people. This is what is referenced when the penis is celebrated in art, and discussed in religion.