<em>Ithyphallic Man with a Harp</em>, 3rd–4th century C.E. Terracotta, pigment, 5 11/16 x 3 7/8 x 2 3/16 in. (14.4 x 9.8 x 5.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.271. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.271_NegC_print_bw.jpg)

Ithyphallic Man with a Harp, 3rd–4th century C.E. Terracotta, pigment, 5 11/16 x 3 7/8 x 2 3/16 in. (14.4 x 9.8 x 5.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.271. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.271_NegC_print_bw.jpg)

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Ithyphallic Man with a Harp

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

This object is what is called a macrophallus, a style of hyper sexualized figurine common during the Roman Period in ancient Egypt. It may have been used to enhance fertility, and would have served as a votive object for all levels of society, not only the wealthy.

The figure’s lack of formal elegance breaks significantly with other Egyptian representations at the time. Rather than following the typical standard of ideal bodily proportions, figures like this one highlighted the carnal, as the man plays a harp with his exaggerated phallus.

MEDIUM Terracotta, pigment

Place Made: Medinet el Faiyum (vicinity), Egypt

DATES 3rd–4th century C.E.

PERIOD Roman Period

DIMENSIONS 5 11/16 x 3 7/8 x 2 3/16 in. (14.4 x 9.8 x 5.6 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 16.271

CREDIT LINE Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Seated terracotta statuette of a nude man holding in his left arm a harp on which he plays with his phallus. Cast hollow in two parts mould. Condition: General condition good. Slightly worn, extensive remains of plaster (?) around base of phallus.

EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Ithyphallic Man with a Harp, 3rd–4th century C.E. Terracotta, pigment, 5 11/16 x 3 7/8 x 2 3/16 in. (14.4 x 9.8 x 5.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Evangeline Wilbour Blashfield, Theodora Wilbour, and Victor Wilbour honoring the wishes of their mother, Charlotte Beebe Wilbour, as a memorial to their father, Charles Edwin Wilbour, 16.271. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.16.271_NegC_print_bw.jpg)

IMAGE front, CUR.16.271_NegC_print_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2015

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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