Scultura fallica. Marmo verde. Lapicida del XX secolo,
9x21 cm. In the cosmognomic culture of antiquity the erected male organ was associated with the cult of fertility. In Roman art, from which our object is inspired, the symbol of the phallus was considered a precious amulet against the evil eye and, in the patrician classes, capable of propitiating fertility and fertility for procreation and young women before marriage prayed Priapus to spend a happy wedding night. Even the vestal virgins, who were consecrated to keep the sacred fire always burning in the temple dedicated to the goddess Vesta, symbol of the life of the Roman State, kept an exemplar to signify the importance of her cult.