Adult Toys in Ancient Greece
Erotica, latex, lingerie, lubricants, stimulants,
dildos, vibrators
Some research documents claim that in many parts of the Middle
East, the earliest sex toys were fashioned out of dried camel
dung. This was coated with a hard resin, presumably to block the
order and prevent the 'dildo' from crumbling and breaking up.
However, the first “official” documented use of a
dildo comes from Ancient Greece, where merchants sold something
called an olisbos. Fashioned from stone, leather, or in some cases
wood, the olisbos became a tool bought primarily by single women
- or so the cultural evidence would have us believe. Fortunately,
we know that dildos and a tantalizing variety of adult toys are
enjoyed by people of both sexes, from all walks of life.
Sex Toys in Renaissance Italy
In true Italian style, Renaissance Italy also made its contribution
to sex history. Here olisbos became diletto, from the Italian
for delight. Even with a liberal amount of olive oil as lubricant,
the diletto was not as comfortable as today's models – although
it must have done something for moisturizing the skin. But as
evidenced by today's booming adult toy industry, the dildo continued
to evolve and grow in popularity.
Sex Toys during the Victorian Era
It was around the mid-nineteenth century when the world was first
introduced to the rubber dildo. Of course these rubber dildos
were much more comfortable and 'life-like' than anything offered
previously.
It was also during the Victorian Era when the world was first
introduced to the vibrator. At the time, vibrators were prescribed
to treat a condition known as "hysteria". This term
is derived from the Greek hystera, meaning "uterus,"
and reflects the ancient and patently false notion that psychiatric
disorders in women spring from disturbances in the uterus. At
the time, women were not regarded as sexual beings, and the use
of a vibrator for sexual pleasure would have been regarded as
scandalous. In turn, vibrators grew in popularity by being marketed
as massagers.
By the early twentieth century vibrators began to appear in early
erotic cinema. Their popularity was stunted in the 1940s, when
the advertisement of such products experienced a steady decline.
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