This week’s entry: Fascinus
What it’s about: The ancient
Romans had a slew of gods and goddesses—212 by
Wikipedia’s count—and there was a deity on hand for just about every occasion. One of the lesser-known gods was Fascinus, who represented sacred “masculine generative power,” and whose symbol was a phallus. (Latin distinguishes between a phallus—a representation of a penis—and the male organ itself.) Fascinus was worshipped by wearing or carrying a phallic
amulet or charm, also called a fascinus. (Thanks to reader Evel Kareebel for this week’s subject suggestion.)
Strangest fact: The charms were believed to
ward off evil, specifically the Evil Eye, especially to protect young boys and soldiers. However, that wasn’t the only use of the fascinus’ power. During the annual Festival Of
Liber (a Romanized version of
Dionysus, who as a god of wine,
fertility, and freedom, was closely associated with Fascinus) a gigantic fascinus was carried around the countryside on a cart to ensure crop
fertility.
https://aux.avclub.com/wikipedia-erected-a-page-to-explain-ancient-rome-s-fasc-1798280902Biggest controversy: Because Christians later wiped out any parts of the
Roman religion deemed too sexual, not that much is known about the god Fascinus. In fact, the
Wikipedia page is about the fascinus
amulets and only mentions their namesake in passing. Christians also wiped out most references to a related minor god, the wonderfully named Mutunus Tutunus, most likely because of a marriage tradition in which
Roman brides supposedly “straddled the phallus of Mutunus to prepare themselves for intercourse.”
Also noteworthy: The English word “fascinate” is derived from fascinus. A fascinus supposedly
had the power to entrance, and the Latin verb “fascinare” means both “to use the power of the fascinus” and “to practice magic” in a more general sense.
I see a number of these being offered by dealers, if genuine, they must of been rather common in ancient times.
Or, more likely, coming out of small foundries in the Far East!
