Archaeologists keep uncovering artifacts that look a lot like sex toys. Not just vaguely – they’re often very specific.
There’s the 28,000-year-old siltstone phallus found in Germany, clearly designed for penetration. Ancient Greek vase paintings show leather dildos (olisbos), often paired with olive oil. And Peruvian pottery? The Moche civilization made ceramic pieces as explicit as anything on a modern website.
These aren’t one-off curiosities – they’re reshaping how we think about human history. Because it turns out, sex toys have been part of our story far longer than anything with a USB port.
How Important Was Sex For The Antique?
In ancient civilizations, sex wasn’t just a private act; it was public, sacred, strategic, and civic.
In many cultures, sex was a gateway to divine connection, a symbol of fertility, and a reflection of social order. From temple rites in Mesopotamia to erotic art in India and Egypt, sexual imagery and acts were integrated into religious, political, and everyday life. Sex was about worshipping gods, ensuring a good harvest, or protecting your home from evil spirits.
6 Reasons Sex Toys Were So Important for Ancient Greeks (and Their Neighbors)
Sex toys weren’t taboo. They were part of how ancient people engaged with health, pleasure, ritual, and power. Below are six reasons they were so vital – and why they still matter today.
1. They Were Sacred Instruments
In ancient Babylon, sacred sex was a religious duty. Women took part in ritual intercourse at the Temple of Ishtar to honor the goddess herself. This wasn’t fringe – this was mainstream worship.
In India, temples like Khajuraho were covered in detailed sex carvings. Group sex, oral sex poses – they weren’t hidden in corners. They were sacred.
Sex wasn’t separate from the spiritual. It was spiritual. The tools were part of the ritual.
2. Pleasure Was Public and Philosophical
The Moche people in ancient Peru made ceramics that depicted sex in astonishing detail: anal, oral, and often non-procreative. These weren’t novelty items. These were societal statements.
Historians believe these artifacts represented more than libido. They expressed beliefs about power, consent, and even humor. Pleasure wasn’t a guilty secret – it was something normal.
3. They Engineered Pleasure Long Before Modern Tech
Ancient Greece had olisbos – leather or wooden dildos lubricated with olive oil. In China, women used jade eggs to strengthen pelvic muscles and channel sexual energy. A 28,000-year-old phallus from Germany still holds up as one of the earliest known sex tools.
Jess Weaver, Head of Marketing at EdenFantasys, puts it plainly:
“The ancients were doing exactly what we’re doing now – building tools to understand and enjoy their bodies. We’re not inventing anything new. We’re refining it.”
4. Sex Education Was Visual, Direct, and Shameless
In ancient Egypt, the Turin Erotic Papyrus showcased some pretty exaggerated acts, possibly satirical, definitely graphic. It may have been a joke or a manual. Either way, it was a tool for learning.
These societies didn’t treat sex as taboo. They showed it, taught it, and even joked about it. That openness made sex toys more than accessories. They were part of the learning process.
5. Symbols Equaled Power and Protection
In ancient Rome, the penis was considered a protective symbol. Soldiers wore phallic amulets meant to shield them from curses.
Sexuality wasn’t something to hide. It was woven into public identity. Tools and symbols linked to sex were tokens of strength and safety. If it protected your body or your home, it mattered.
6. Fertility Was Civic Infrastructure
Sex rituals and fertility objects weren’t “extra” – they were essential. Venus figurines, with wide hips and exaggerated anatomy, were mass-produced in ancient times as charms to boost fertility and protect life cycles.
If sex meant babies and babies meant survival, then sex toys that encouraged pleasure, connection, and fertility were tools for societal continuity.
Sex Toys Were Mundane House Objects – What Changed?
So why did sex toys go from sacred to secret?
The shift came with evolving moral codes. As monotheistic religions gained dominance, many cultures adopted stricter taboos around sexuality. What was once divine became sinful. What was public became private.
Later, during colonial eras and the Victorian age, Western societies turned sex into something clinical and shameful. Tools that once symbolized joy, healing, and fertility were buried – literally and figuratively.
the human urge didn’t disappear. It adapted, went underground, and slowly began resurfacing.
Still Buzzing After 30,000 Years
Ancient civilizations didn’t treat sex toys as novelties – they treated them as necessities. These weren’t just private items – they were tools for prayer, teaching, strength, status and survival.
Despite all the tech advances, the purpose of today’s sex toys isn’t so different.
Jess Weaver sums it up perfectly: “People today buy sex toys not just for fun, but to reconnect with their bodies, their partners, and their right to explore. That mindset? That’s ancient.”
So no, your vibrator isn’t the cutting edge of human innovation. It’s part of a 30,000-year-old tradition.Still curious. Still creating. Still horny – and human.
