Tintinnabulum (say that 3x fast)
Jul. 20th, 2013 12:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
The world continues to ferment and bubble, but I am going to try to take a break from politics for the sake of my mental health (this is NOT in any way shape or form a statement that anyone else should change what or how they post, or that these issues aren't important. They are vitally important, but so is keeping myself on a relatively even keel so I can continue to do what I can about them.)
At any rate, while I was contemplating that resolve, I happened across this awesome image, which I remember from a book I own (Sex or Symbol?), and decided to put it into my journal. The image is NSFW nowadays, which amuses me because 1800 years ago it would have made a fine ornament to many workplaces.

I found it here, where they quote Wikipedia's description: In ancient Rome, a tintinnabulum was a wind chime or assemblage of bells. A tintinnabulum often took the form of a bronze phallic figure with wings, or fascinum, a magico-religious phallus thought to ward off the evil eye and bring good fortune and prosperity. It was hung outdoors in locations such as gardens, porticoes, houses, and shops, where the wind would cause them to tinkle. The sounds of bells were believed to keep away evil spirits.
I feel oddly cheered by this thing, and not just because it's a penis with a penis.
At any rate, while I was contemplating that resolve, I happened across this awesome image, which I remember from a book I own (Sex or Symbol?), and decided to put it into my journal. The image is NSFW nowadays, which amuses me because 1800 years ago it would have made a fine ornament to many workplaces.

I found it here, where they quote Wikipedia's description: In ancient Rome, a tintinnabulum was a wind chime or assemblage of bells. A tintinnabulum often took the form of a bronze phallic figure with wings, or fascinum, a magico-religious phallus thought to ward off the evil eye and bring good fortune and prosperity. It was hung outdoors in locations such as gardens, porticoes, houses, and shops, where the wind would cause them to tinkle. The sounds of bells were believed to keep away evil spirits.
I feel oddly cheered by this thing, and not just because it's a penis with a penis.