This is the worship of the reproductive powers, the sexual appointments
revered as the emblems of the Creator. The one male, the active creative
power; the other the female or passive power; ideas which were
represented by various emblems in different countries.
These emblems were of a pure and sacred character, and used at a time
when the prophets and priests spoke plain speech, understood by a rude
and primitive people; although doubtless by the common people the
emblems were worshipped themselves, even as at the present day in Roman
Catholic countries the more ignorant, in many cases, actually worship
the images and pictures themselves, while to the higher and more
intelligent minds they are only symbols of a hidden object of worship.
In the same manner, the concealed meaning or hidden truth was to the
ignorant and rude people of early times entirely unknown, while the
priests and the more learned kept studiously concealed the meaning of
the ceremonies and symbols. Thus, the primitive idea became mixed with
profligate, debased ceremonies, and lascivious rites, which in time
caused the more pure part of the worship to be forgotten. But Phallicism
is not to be judged from these sacred orgies, any more than Christianity
from the religious excitement and wild excesses of a few Christian sects
during the Middle Ages.
In a work on the “Worship of the Generative Powers during the Middle
Ages,” the writer traces the superstition westward, and gives an account
of its prevalence throughout Southern and Western Europe during that
period.
The worship was very prevalent in Italy, and was invariably carried by
the Romans into the countries they conquered, where they introduced
their own institutions and forms of worship. Accordingly, in Britain
have been found numerous relics and remains; and many of our ancient
customs are traced to a Phallic origin. “When we cross over to Britain,”
says the writer, “we find this worship established no less firmly and
extensively in that island; statuettes of Priapus, Phallic bronzes,
pottery covered with obscene pictures, are found wherever there are any
extensive remains of Roman occupation, as our antiquaries know well. The
numerous Phallic figures in bronze found in England are perfectly
identical in character with those that occur in France and Italy.”
All antiquaries of any experience know the great number of obscene
subjects which are met with among the fine red pottery which is termed
Samian ware, found so abundantly in all Roman sites in our island. “They
represent erotic scenes, in every sense of the word, with figures of
Priapus and Phallic emblems.”