If you want to see more of those, look in the books Eros in Pompeii and Erotocism in Pompeii. There are plenty of phallic windchimes, including three items in the first book thast the author (mistakenly, I believe) calls birdbaths. There were plenty of phallic objects in Pompeii as well – they were seen as apotropaic and lucky symbols. There were many figures and wall-paintinfs of Priapus (who also stood in gardens), and of a long-penised Mercury. Phalli stood out from buildings for luck, or were carved into the walls. It was an accepted and, in time, overlooked part of everyday life.
It still boggles my mind. I can’t imagine walking past a herm or a garden with a wooden Priapus with an oversized red-painted prick, or a wall-carving of an erect penis and not noticing it. But the Greeks and Romans did.
I was going to point out that Dillinger’s wang is supposedly in the Smithsonian, but then I noticed your location, and realized you’re probably a better expert on the matter than I am.
The proper response to the winged phallus windchime isn’t, “Awww, it’s so cute! I want one!”, right? I do find it oddly adorable, though. I think a plush version would be a great addition to my couch. It’s like a little phallic griffin!
This reminds me of the debate over the Princeton 250th anniversary logo. It somehow featured Nassau Hall but there was concern about it being too phallic. So they decided on this revised design. Which to me features not one but two phalluses. :smack: At least the smaller one is less threatening. :rolleyes:
