Ithyphallic Man with a Harp
3rd-4th century C.E.
Maker Unknown
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
This object is what is called a macrophallus, a style of hyper sexualized figurine common during the Roman Period in ancient Egypt. It may have been used to enhance fertility, and would have served as a votive object for all levels of society, not only the wealthy.
The figure’s lack of formal elegance breaks significantly with other Egyptian representations at the time. Rather than following the typical standard of ideal bodily proportions, figures like this one highlighted the carnal, as the man plays a harp with his exaggerated phallus.
The figure’s lack of formal elegance breaks significantly with other Egyptian representations at the time. Rather than following the typical standard of ideal bodily proportions, figures like this one highlighted the carnal, as the man plays a harp with his exaggerated phallus.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Formatted Medium
- Terracotta, pigment
- Medium
- terracotta, pigment
- Locations
- Place made: Medinet el Faiyum (vicinity), Egypt
- Period
- Roman Period
- Dimensions
- 5 11/16 x 3 7/8 x 2 3/16 in. (14.4 x 9.8 x 5.6 cm)
- Accession Number
- 16.271
- Credit Line
- Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- This item is not on view
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