While wandering through a museum, have you ever pondered why the statues of heroic Ancient Greek figures often depict them with small penises? The explanation might surprise you.
The Ancient Greek civilization, which thrived from around 1200 BCE to 323 BCE, is renowned for its contributions to modern drama, mathematics, and science, as well as for its artistic prowess in marble sculpture.
Among the notable sculptures from this era are the Kritios Boy, Myron’s Discobolus, and The Artemision Bronze, believed to represent Zeus, the King of the Gods.
Although these statues often showcase men with muscular physiques and pronounced features, they share another characteristic – notably small genitalia.
This observation was highlighted by TikTok creator Ruby Reign.
In her video, Reign remarked, “Have you ever wondered why so many of the ancient Greek statues have colossal muscular physiques and yet a tiny package? Well, I have, so I did some digging.”
She noted that she initially didn’t realize the Greeks often portrayed their adversaries, such as the Egyptians, satirical figures, and fools in comedies, with large appendages, indicating a negative connotation, unlike today’s perceptions.
Reign explained that in Ancient Greece, smaller genitalia were associated with virtues like civility, self-control, and discipline, whereas larger ones suggested a lustful or gluttonous nature.
This topic has been a subject of interest for Greek historians as well.
“They have small to very small penises, compared to the average of humanity and they’re usually flaccid,” noted Andrew Lear, an art historian who specializes in Greek art and sexuality.
Various historians and experts have offered insights into why these sculptures were crafted with smaller genitalia.
In his 2016 book, “In Bed with the Ancient Greeks,” historian Paul Chrystal stated, “The small penis was consonant with Greek ideals of male beauty. It was a badge of the highest culture and a paragon of civilization.”
This admiration for smaller male genitalia can also be found in ancient Greek literature.
For instance, Aristophanes, in his play “The Clouds” (c. 419-423 BC), described the ideal male attributes as including ‘a gleaming chest, bright skin, broad shoulders, tiny tongue, strong buttocks, and a little prick’, as reported by the Greek Reporter.
So, it appears that in Ancient Greece, the size did play a role, but perhaps not in the way one might expect today.