Discover how sex toys have evolved their function and meaning through the centuries, from the ancient world to modern times. Read the article for a fascinating historical journey that reveals practices, beliefs and curiosities about human pleasure and sex toys in different cultures of the past.
Make them stone
The ólisbos (from the verb ólisthánein, "to slip") was a leather phallus 8 fingers long (about 15 cm), produced in the Ionian city of Miletus (today in Turkey), lubricated with olive oil. This tool appears to have been around since the dawn of humanity, as evidenced by life-size stone phalluses found at prehistoric archaeological sites such as the Hohle Fels cave in Germany and the Mesolithic site of Motala in Sweden. These votive sculptures, probably used as "intimate toys", reveal that our ancestors' sexuality was very similar to ours. Studying the history of objects of pleasure illuminates the thousand-year history of sexuality in the East and West, holding significant surprises.
Moche culture and the sexuality of ancient civilizations
Contrary to the traditional image of ancient civilizations being austere and focused on warfare and hunting, the reality was different. "Primitive man was pure and free, he vented his sexual instincts with animals, objects or women without problems", claimed the psychiatrist Ferruccio Antonelli. In many pre-Christian civilizations, sex was seen as a natural act, performed by the gods, which gave rise to the world. According to Sumerian mythology, the god Enki created the Tigris and Euphrates rivers through an act of autoeroticism, ejaculating. Likewise, the Egyptian god Ra-Atum fathered the divine couple Shiu (Air) and Tefnut (Moisture) with a similar act. And if Egyptian graffiti attests to the use of artificial phalluses, the most explicit evidence comes from the Greek world.
Ancient Greece, Ólisbos
For the Greeks, these objects were the pastime of widows, dissatisfied wives and women from the island of Lesbos. They were also used by courtesans during orgies. The use of ólisbos is represented in erotic paintings on amphorae and wine cups, called kántharos, which circulated in traditional Greek men's symposiums. It was not necessarily an indicator of female homosexuality – the terms "homosexual" and "heterosexual" were coined by the Hungarian writer Károly Mária Kertbeny in 1869 – but it extended to situations of group sex between men, as underlined by the French historian Sandra Boehringer, professor at University of Strasbourg.
Roman tradition and Christianity
This tradition was then inherited by the Romans, as demonstrated by the representations of sexual games on the walls of Pompeii. It is thought that even the priestesses of the god Priapus, deity of male fertility, used artificial phalluses in nocturnal mystery rites, thus avoiding the male presence. With the advent of Christianity, however, everything changed in the West, where a sexophobic turn transformed pleasure into sin. As the medievalist historian Jacques Le Goff stated, sapphic relationships between nuns who used artificial instruments were punished with seven years of penance.
East, Kama Sutra and Taoism
In the East, the climate was very different. The famous Kama Sutra, written in Sanskrit by the Brahmin philosopher Vatsyayana in 300 AD, advises men to use means to excite the passion of the lustful hastini, the elephant woman, such as the kanchuka, a large prosthesis. In the Chinese Celestial Empire, during the period between the Han and Ming dynasties (220 BC-1644), Taoism encouraged the use of various objects of pleasure, considering them part of the cosmic creative process. The erotic manual "The Art of the Bedroom" explains how to satisfy as many partners as possible without ejaculating, using accessories such as male "delay" rings and ivory dildos.
Japanese Shunga and the Turkish-Ottoman world
Even in Edo period Japan (17th century), shunga – erotic woodcuts – illustrated erotic toys such as the harigata and rin no tama, silver "geisha balls", used to increase mutual pleasure. In the Turkish-Ottoman world, artificial phalluses were used to deflower virgins without getting dirty with blood, considered impure, or to satisfy the women of the harem in the absence of their husbands.
Dildos in the West and sadomasochism
From the libertine East, artificial dildos reached the West through commercial exchanges, changing their name to dildos or gomichè. Italian dildos, made of glass and mentioned by William Shakespeare in "The Winter's Tale" (1611), were prohibited at the English court and, if discovered, confiscated and burned, as happened in 1670 to the poet John Wilmot, Duke of Rochester. Long sea voyages introduced other sex toys, such as dames de voyage, female puppets invented by Dutch sailors to combat sexual abstinence. In the following centuries, the "toy park" was enriched with the boom in sadomasochism, following the publication of the work "The New Justine" by the Marquis de Sade.
Vibrators and the industrial revolution
In the 19th century, with the Industrial Revolution, the ancestors of modern sex toys saw the light. The vulcanized rubber doll, patented by Charles Goodyear in 1844, and vibrators, such as the Tremoussoir (1734), the Pulsocon (1880) and Granville's Hammer (1883), were initially used medically to combat anxiety, insomnia and headaches back. Only with the advent of the first pornographic films were vibrators associated with erotic practices.
Sexuality between technology and modernity
As the 20th century progressed, sex toys evolved greatly thanks to technological developments and the growing social acceptance of sexuality. Mass production and easier access to modern materials have enabled the creation of a wide range of sex toys, including vibrators, dildos, vibrating rings, and much more.
The sexual revolution of the 60s and 70s
The sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s played a crucial role in the normalization of sex toys. This period of intense sexual liberation saw an increase in public discussion and visibility of issues related to sexual pleasure and autonomy. Women, in particular, have begun to reclaim the right to their own sexual pleasure, encouraging the use of vibrators and other toys as tools for self-exploration and personal satisfaction.Marketing and mass distribution
The marketing of sex toys received a major boost with the advent of mail order sales and, subsequently, with the expansion of the Internet. The possibility of purchasing these products discreetly and privately has contributed to their large-scale diffusion. In the 1980s and 1990s, specialty stores and chains such as "Good Vibrations" and "Babeland" began to emerge, offering a safe and welcoming environment for consumers.Technological innovation and product diversification
With the start of the 21st century, technological innovation has further transformed the sex toy landscape. Advances in materials, such as medical silicone, have improved the safety and comfort of toys. At the same time, the integration of advanced technologies, such as remote control via apps and virtual reality, has opened up new possibilities for sexual pleasure.Towards an inclusive future
Today, the sex toy industry is constantly evolving, with a growing focus on inclusivity and diversity. Products designed to accommodate a wide range of sexual orientations and gender identities have become more common, reflecting a more nuanced and complex understanding of human sexuality. Companies like "HotMyVibe" and "Darkness" are leading this transformation, promoting sexual wellness and empowerment through innovation and inclusive design.Cultural normalization and social acceptance
Pop culture and media have played a significant role in normalizing sex toys. Television shows like "Sex and the City" and films like "Fifty Shades of Grey" have helped bring these objects out of the shadows, integrating them into popular narratives and reducing the stigma associated with their use.The history of sex toys is a reflection of changing social perceptions on sexuality, technological innovation and personal empowerment. From the ancient world to the present day, these objects have accompanied the evolution of human pleasure, adapting and transforming in response to people's needs and desires. Looking to the future, it is likely that they will continue to play a central role in sexual well-being, contributing to a more open and inclusive understanding of human sexuality.
