Bronze Phallic Ornament in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, December 2022

Title: Bronze phallic ornament

Period: Imperial

Date: 1st century CE

Culture: Roman

Medium: Bronze

Dimensions: L. 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.)

Classification: Bronzes

Credit Line: Gift of A. Hyatt Mayor, 1960

Object Number: 60.117.1

Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

This ornament probably hung as a charm from a tintinnabulum, a wind chime adorned with bells and intended to ward off evil. These phallic tintinnabula were doubly apotropaic, the protective effect of the phallus strengthened by the ringing of the bells. The phallus on these objects could take many different forms, transforming into a wolf, dog, beast, lion, monster, or winged creature.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/255086