Object type
sculpture
Culture/period
Roman world
Materials
sandstone
Technique
sculpting
Mint
Production date
100 / 200
Current location
Exposició permanent
Archaeological site
Hostafrancs
Township
Barcelona (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Barcelona, Barcelonès)
Dimensions
215 cm
Description
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Sculpture of Priapus which lacks his head, showing a large phallus rising throughout the coat. Priapus was a minor Greek god, who was incorporated into the Roman pantheon during the Hellenistic period. He was a deity associated with fertility, who was part of the retinue of Dionysus / Bacchus, and he was always represented with his most characteristic attribute, a huge phallus. Furthermore, he was also the god invoked to ensure the fertility of the fields and cattle, the abundance of fish, as well as lush gardens. In this particular sculpture, the god Priapus is holding up his garments to let us see a huge erect penis. With the skirt of his tunic he is holding flowers and fruits, to remind us of his divine nature of fertility and gardens. Owing to its size (more than 2m tall) and the flat finish to the back, probably the sculpture would have been attached to a monument or temple in a garden. It was found in July 1848 in a lot in Hostafrancs, near the Covered Cross, where there were some works. Most likely in this area there would have been a suburban villa in Roman times.
© Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - Barcelona
Omeka ID
2341