(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
Posted on 01/12/2013 2:52:59 PM PST by SunkenCiv
In a claim certain to prick the interest of followers of archaeology and mythology everywhere, the head of Bulgaria's National History Museum has said that an ancient temple to the Greek god Priapus has been found in the Black Sea town of Sozopol.
National History Museum chief Bozhidar Dimitrov, who hails from Sozopol, said that archaeologists had found a clay phallus inscribed "to Priapus" during a dig in the Black Sea town, which in the past 24 months has boasted everything from the finding of the purported hand bones of Christian saint John the Baptist to a temple to Poseidon.
Dimitrov reminded local media of the legend of Priapus and a donkey having disputed who was the better-endowed, with the donkey losing the dispute and its life into the bargain, ending as a sacrifice to the god.
The cult of Priapus, Dimitrov said, was believed to have originated along the coast of Asia Minor. In Hellenistic and Roman times, Priapus became associated with sensual pleasure.
Votives were made to Priapus, he said, from men who had genital diseases or otherwise had problems with erectile dysfunction or potency.
Priapus, Dimitrov omitted to mention, also is seen as something of a pagan patron saint of gardens (think: fertility) and his place in popular legend has been enhanced by mentions in the Satyricon by Petronius, in the works of Ovid, and in Chaucer.
Priapus, interestingly, also had a less obviously sexually prominent place in the figurines used as pointers in artefacts used in ancient Greece and Rome as navigational aids.
(Excerpt) Read more at sofiaglobe.com ...
(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
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| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
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Thanks Renfield. |
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Priapus,,,, Isn’t that made by Toyota? That’s what I call my friend’s car.
I think he was the subject of a lot of jokes too.
I remember in one of Aristophanes’ plays, an Athenian seeing a Spartan, who has been denied sex by his wife, asks if he was a man or Priapus.
Is that where Jimmy Hoffa was buried?
And remember, devotees of Priapus, if your worship lasts longer than four hours, please consult your oracle.
}:-)4
For some reason I believe there are scores of bent over arab or mohammedan men aflicted.
Dear Bulgarians,
Congratulations on finding your clay phallus!
All inspired, no doubt, by the lay of the land as it reaches out to the sea.
Coincidential writing? I don't think so!
As long as it wasn’t the temple of Priapism.
;’) “Is that a catalytic converter, or are you...”
LOL!
I am reminded of the statue in “La Cage aux Folles”.
Good thing it wasn't found in Australia or it might have been a duckbilled priapus..
My friend keeps saying, “It’s a Prius, not whatever you’re callin’ it!” I tell him that my name for it fits!
Among the Gods, Priapus had a reputation of being a real dick.
When he tells you it gets 60 miles per gallon, ask him, “60 gallons of what?”
Don’t even ask about his cousin, Prianus.
Yeah, “lay of the land”, and I suppose *that* was accidental... ;’)
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