TERRACOTTA PHALLUS, C2-C4 BCE. ROME SUBWAY STATION COLOSSEO-FORI IMPERIALI
When excavations for the huge Colosseo-Fori Imperiali subway station began in 2012, archaeologists found no less than 28 ancient wells in the area of the ancient hill called the Velia, dating from before the period when the Forum area was well-served with aqueducts. Many were from the early and mid Republic. When they began to dry up, they were ceremonially closed, with votive objects being thrown in before the wells were filled in. In Well 3, at some point between the C4 and the C2 BCE, this little phallic ex voto was thrown in, perhaps as a tribute to the healing powers of the waters. A little ceramic owl figurine, of the same period, was also thrown in.
Is that a broken piece of chalk in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me? This #PhallusThursday we're deep underground in the new #Rome subway station Colosseo-Fori Imperiali to find a snapped-off terracotta #phallus #exvoto from Well 3, C4-C2 BCE. #AncientBluesky 🏺