Talismansthe gallery← talismans.guru
Sexual & Erotic Charms · c. 3000 BCE – today

Fascinum & phallic charms

Meaning

The fascinum is the divine phallus, embodiment of the god Fascinus. It stands for male potency, fertility and life, and its sight 'fascinates' and deflects the evil eye. It is often combined with a fig-hand gesture (mano fico) and wings or legs.

Intent

Worn as a pendant by boys, soldiers and others, hung on children's necks with the bulla, fixed on horse harness, carved over doors and bridges, and placed in houses, it drove off the evil eye (invidia) and misfortune through laughter and shock.

Significance

The Romans took it very seriously: Pliny says the fascinum protected infants and even the triumphing general's chariot. It is one of the most common Roman small finds, and its logic survives in the Italian horn and fig-hand.

History

Phallic amulets appear in Etruscan and Roman contexts from the 3rd century BCE and are very common across the Empire in the 1st–3rd centuries CE, in bronze, bone, gold and silver.

Making yours
2–8 cm cast bronze. Classic triple type: phallus, fig-hand and phallic tail, with a central ring. Bone and silver versions exist.
Sexual & Erotic Charms: the tradition

Sexual imagery is one of the oldest and most universal forms of protection. Fertility is life itself, and the exposed phallus or vulva was believed to shock, amuse or distract malevolent forces, especially the evil eye. Egypt had its ithyphallic gods, Rome its fascinum on every child, doorway and chariot, medieval Europe its obscene badges and sheela-na-gigs, Thailand and Japan their phallic shrines and charms, China its 'spring palace' coins for newlyweds. Victorian collectors hid much of this material in 'secret museums' such as the Gabinetto Segreto in Naples and the British Museum's Secretum, and only in the late 20th century was it studied openly as religion and social history.

See all 152, save the ones that feel rightAsk about having one made
Amuleto fálico de bronce. Siglos II-III d. C. Museo de Historia de ValenciaAmuleto fálico de bronce. Siglos II-III d. C. Museo de Historia de ValenciaSpainAmulet depicting a phallus title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting a phallus " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting a phallus " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante un fallo"Amulet depicting a phallus title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting a phallus " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting a phallus " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante un fallo"between 30 BC and 395 Roman Egypt Era (30 BC date QS:P,-0030-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 –395)amuletă în formă de phallusamuletă în formă de phallusRomaniaGraeco-Roman phallic amuletGraeco-Roman phallic amuletAmuletos fálicos de bronce. Siglos II-III d. C. Museo de Historia de ValenciaAmuletos fálicos de bronce. Siglos II-III d. C. Museo de Historia de ValenciaSpainAmulet depicting a phallus (?) title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting a phallus (?) " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting a phallus (?) " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante un fallo (?)"Amulet depicting a phallus (?) title QS:P1476,en:"Amulet depicting a phallus (?) " label QS:Len,"Amulet depicting a phallus (?) " label QS:Lit,"Amuleto raffigurante un fallo (?)"between 332 BC and 395 Egyptian Hellenistic period (323 BC date QS:P,-0323-00-00T00:00:00Z/9 –30 BC date QS:P,-0030-00-0amuletă de bronz în formă de phallusamuletă de bronz în formă de phallusRomaniaGraeco-Roman phallic amuletGraeco-Roman phallic amuletBronze phallic amuletBronze phallic amulet1 st century AD date QS:P571,+050-00-00T00:00:00Z/7amuletă în formă de phallusamuletă în formă de phallusRomaniaGraeco-Roman phallic amuletGraeco-Roman phallic amuletFascinum relief, PompeiiFascinum relief, PompeiiGraeco-Roman phallic amuletGraeco-Roman phallic amuletAmuletos fálicos utilizados como colgantesAmuletos fálicos utilizados como colgantesA Graeco-Roman phallic amulet made from alabaster with bronze wings, Pompeii, 100 BC - AD 100A Graeco-Roman phallic amulet made from alabaster with bronze wings, Pompeii, 100 BC - AD 100D. Diogo de Sousa Museum in Braga PortugalD. Diogo de Sousa Museum in Braga PortugalA Graeco-Roman phallic amulet made from alabaster with bronze wings, Pompeii, 100 BC - AD 100A Graeco-Roman phallic amulet made from alabaster with bronze wings, Pompeii, 100 BC - AD 100Tintinnambula e campanelli a forma di fallo, italia, I-III sec.Tintinnambula e campanelli a forma di fallo, italia, I-III sec.A Graeco-Roman phallic amulet made from alabaster with bronze wings, Pompeii, 100 BC - AD 100A Graeco-Roman phallic amulet made from alabaster with bronze wings, Pompeii, 100 BC - AD 100Ever-present phallic good luck relief above a bakery oven at IX 1,3 Pompeii ProwalkEver-present phallic good luck relief above a bakery oven at IX 1,3 Pompeii Prowalk1st century BCE - 1st century CEA Graeco-Roman phallic amulet made from alabaster with bronze wings, Pompeii, 100 BC - AD 100A Graeco-Roman phallic amulet made from alabaster with bronze wings, Pompeii, 100 BC - AD 100Priapus on the door post of Bakery VII 1,36 Pompeii ProwalkPriapus on the door post of Bakery VII 1,36 Pompeii Prowalk1st century BCE - 1st century CEGraeco-Roman bronze phallic pendant.Graeco-Roman bronze phallic pendant.between 100 BC and 400 ADPhallic relief for good luck on right hand door post of Bakery at Reg 7 1,36 Pompeii ProwalkPhallic relief for good luck on right hand door post of Bakery at Reg 7 1,36 Pompeii Prowalk1st century BCE - 1st century CECloseup of Priapus Relief on door post of Bakery at Reg 7 1, 36 Pompeii ProwalkCloseup of Priapus Relief on door post of Bakery at Reg 7 1, 36 Pompeii Prowalk1st century BCE - 1st century CEAmulette en pendentif de forme phalliqueAmulette en pendentif de forme phalliqueGraeco-Roman phallic amuletGraeco-Roman phallic amuletManus Fica amuletManus Fica amuletObjetos priápicos - Museo Arqueológico de CórdobaObjetos priápicos - Museo Arqueológico de CórdobaPendaglio apotropaico in avorio a forma di pene, IV-III sec. ac. ca., da cinta muraria di rosellePendaglio apotropaico in avorio a forma di pene, IV-III sec. ac. ca., da cinta muraria di rosellePhallic object. large plaster female figure.Phallic object. large plaster female figure.Roman Bronze Bell or Wind Chime in the shape of a phallus, Italy, 1st-3rd C. AD (28629794952)Roman Bronze Bell or Wind Chime in the shape of a phallus, Italy, 1st-3rd C. AD (28629794952)Roman cosmetic pestle/phallic amulet (probably)Roman cosmetic pestle/phallic amulet (probably)Roman phallic amuletRoman phallic amuletRömisches Amulett mit männlichen GenitalienRömisches Amulett mit männlichen GenitalienSeñal (Signale) - PompeiiSeñal (Signale) - PompeiiStone Marker with Carved Phallic Symbol – Timgad, Algeria 5Stone Marker with Carved Phallic Symbol – Timgad, Algeria 5Terracotta lamp decorated with a winged phallus, made in central Italy, about 50 BCTerracotta lamp decorated with a winged phallus, made in central Italy, about 50 BCUne sculpture en forme de pénis a Timgad, Wilaya de BatnaUne sculpture en forme de pénis a Timgad, Wilaya de BatnaFalo en piedra de PompeyaFalo en piedra de PompeyaFreudenhausFreudenhausGraeco-Roman bronze phallic pendant.Graeco-Roman bronze phallic pendant.Graeco-Roman phallic amuletGraeco-Roman phallic amuletIthyphallic tintinnabulumIthyphallic tintinnabulumLeon 32 museo by-dpcLeon 32 museo by-dpcPalencia Museo Arqueológico 002Palencia Museo Arqueológico 002Phallic amulet : RomanPhallic amulet : RomanPhallus - Djémila (15243908473)Phallus - Djémila (15243908473)Roman Bronze Bells or Wind Chimes in the shape of a phallus, Italy, 1st-3rd C. AD (28629796532)Roman Bronze Bells or Wind Chimes in the shape of a phallus, Italy, 1st-3rd C. AD (28629796532)Roman tintinnabula in the Welcome CollectionRoman tintinnabula in the Welcome CollectionStone Marker with Carved Phallic Symbol – Timgad, Algeria 1Stone Marker with Carved Phallic Symbol – Timgad, Algeria 1Stone Marker with Carved Phallic Symbol – Timgad, Algeria 7Stone Marker with Carved Phallic Symbol – Timgad, Algeria 7Amuleto a forma di fallo di cane, in ceramica comune, dal cantiere delle navi a pisa, II-III secolo dcAmuleto a forma di fallo di cane, in ceramica comune, dal cantiere delle navi a pisa, II-III secolo dcAmuleto fallico a mezzaluna, con gesto delle fiche, I-II secolo dcAmuleto fallico a mezzaluna, con gesto delle fiche, I-II secolo dcAmulets fàl·lics, segles II-II dC. Museu d'Història de ValènciaAmulets fàl·lics, segles II-II dC. Museu d'Història de ValènciaAntica roma, amuleto a forma di fallo con ali (fascinum), da pompeiAntica roma, amuleto a forma di fallo con ali (fascinum), da pompeiBottega di L. Livi Firmi 1Bottega di L. Livi Firmi 1Epoca romana, amuleto con piccolo fallo portafortunaEpoca romana, amuleto con piccolo fallo portafortunaEscultura fàl·lica de marbre blanc, vil·la romana de l'ÈnovaEscultura fàl·lica de marbre blanc, vil·la romana de l'ÈnovaExvoto o amuleto fálico. Museo de Arqueología de Cataluña (Gerona)Exvoto o amuleto fálico. Museo de Arqueología de Cataluña (Gerona)

More from Sexual & Erotic Charms: Tintinnabula (charm wind-chimes) · Egyptian & Graeco-Egyptian fertility figures · Priapus & Roman erotica · Sheela-na-gigs & exhibitionist figures · Palad khik (phallic charms) · Chinese “spring” coin charms · Love charms & aphrodisiac talismans · Other & unsorted Sexual
Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made, by hand, in the prescribed metal or yours and, where the tradition names an hour, at that hour or with a plain note that it was not. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted first. I reply within one business day.