Triple phallus; Rome, 1st–2nd centuries

Triple phallus; Rome, 1st–2nd centuries.
Bronze.
Measurements: 4.5 x 6 cm; 8 cm with base.
Roman bronze pendant amulet in the shape of a triple phallus; the one on the right is topped by a clenched fist, a symbol of protection. It is likely a representation of the god Priapus, a minor rustic deity of fertility—both of vegetation and animals—and a purely phallic figure. He was typically depicted as an enormous phallus in perpetual erection, a symbol of nature’s fertilizing power. In addition to ensuring the fertility of the fields, Priapus—or his representation as a phallus in the form of an amulet—warded off the evil eye and protected against thieves.