#witchofthewoods

The Witch’s Light – Glowing Jack-o’-Lanterns in the Enchanted Woods 🎃🌕

The phallic image is partly associated with the cult of worship of the phallus itself - a symbol of strength and fertility for people of the past. In fact, people could see such symbols in many objects: in swords, thin long vertical stones, monuments, and in general in anything that had corresponding shape of an erect penis. Can also be considered phallic symbols: mountains, horns, towers, swords, lightning, trees, sticks, towers and other objects. There are those things that are similar purely symbolically and there are specific objects made by people in form of a phallus.

For different peoples, this image had the same meanings. Phallic symbol was a sign of fertility, masculinity, physical and spiritual strength, prosperity, life, harvest, activity, comedy, creative energy.

What caused deification of phallus with all attendant cults? Probably, people saw in male reproductive organ and seed something that gives life to others, a kind of continuation of everything and male power. And almost complete uncontrollability of processes associated with this, that is, sexual arousal and orgasm, correlated phallus with something incredible, beyond control of man, but very important for many peoples. In other words, phallus was considered something separate from the person.

Phallic symbols include male phallus itself and, to some extent, also female genital organs.

In antiquity, for example, a sculpture of ancient Greek god of fertility Priapus was installed in parks, gardens and productive areas to attract productivity. Priapus was symbolically depicted with an erection. His figures were carried with them or placed at home for protection and amulet.

In ancient Greece on Decembers, orgies were held, scenes from which were subsequently depicted on vases. These orgies were called festivals of Dionysus. During celebration, people carried wooden or stone phallus figurines.

In ancient Rome Phallic figurines were also used as decorations for women and depicted in temples. They could also be hung at home to protect against the evil eye and for good luck.

In Hellas, so-called herms were erected in honor of Priapus. They depicted head of a man with beard and an erect penis on a pole. They installed herms along roads, near fields and near houses, as it was believed that this would deter thieves, robbers and evil eye.

For Christians, phallus also had a special meaning, and there is evidence of this. For example, pilgrims from Middle Ages could receive figurines in form of phallus as a souvenir from priests in one of Parisian monasteries. This could be considered echoes of paganism, but even some Christian churches were decorated with figurines with phalluses. Phallic shrines previously existed.

There were saints of that time, whose phallus played a significant role for believers. For example, Saint Photin, Saint Gerlicho, Saint Priapus of Antwerp and others. It was believed that these saints could help infertile women and save them from this disease, or help unmarried girls get married.

Unfortunately, many phallic symbols medieval Europe did not survive to this day, because after that period of witch hunts began, and everything connected with paganism and witches was condemned. It was believed that it was witches who resorted to cult of phallus worship. Phallic symbolism was eradicated. This was end of 14th - beginning of 16th Century.

Modern phallic symbols are different from those that came before. They are no longer associated with cult of phallus worship and do not have divine significance, as in some cultures. Nevertheless, they also have a special sacredness. Like "Monolith" in Oslo. This stele was made by Gustav Vigeland. Around her are sculptures of naked people, which symbolically means “circle of life” and craving for spiritual.