Rare phallic ceramist stylus found in Sicily

"It is 5.2 inches (13.2 cm) long and was carved out of bone. The size and design identify it as a stylus used by potters to draw and write inscriptions on the surface of unfired clay, but the elaborate decoration, both the herm on the handle and the stylus carved with deep circular grooves around its diameter, make it a unique example."

"He explained that, while the primary function of a stylus of these characteristics was the drawing of designs or inscriptions on clay surfaces before firing, the refined decoration and the inherent fragility of bone point to a use that likely went beyond the purely utilitarian. Cala drew a contemporary analogy to illustrate its possible nature: it could have been an object owned and displayed for its intrinsic value, similar to a high-end fountain pen kept on a desk"

"This interpretation aligns with the hypothesis put forward by Superintendent Daniela Vullo, who suggested that the stylus may have been conceived as a votive offering intended for a deity, perhaps linked to the protection of the workshop, artistic inspiration, or creative fertility. Herms were square pillars with a head, sometimes a bust, above the plain four-sided section and male genitals at around the right location on the pillar where they would be on a body."

A rare bone stylus from 5th century B.C. was discovered at Gela, Sicily. The intact instrument measures 13.2 cm and features a rectangular handle carved into a miniature herm with a bearded head atop and an erect phallus at center. The stylus shaft bears deep circular grooves and was carved from bone. Size and form identify it as a potter's stylus for drawing designs and inscriptions on unfired clay, while the refined decoration and bone fragility indicate likely use beyond everyday toolwork. Excavators note absence of direct parallels. One interpretation proposes display ownership or a votive offering linked to workshop protection or creative inspiration. Herms originated in Greece and carried apotropaic meanings.

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