The deity Priapus, son of Bacchus and god of sexuality, fertility and gardens, is identified by his erect phallus. A total of 13 Priapus figurines have been found in Britain. These take several forms, including complete figurines and herms (the upper body of a figure mounted on a square pillar). The complete figures usually depict a standing, nude male with his hands at his side (849) or crossed over the body (981). One example from Ingham, Suffolk, depicts Priapus wearing a short cloak over his shoulders, his arms underneath the cloak (727). The placement of the arms helps to emphasise the phallus, as does the stance of figure 1016 from Harrogate, N. Yorkshire, and herm 823 from Pakenham, Suffolk, both of which are leaning back from the hips.
An unusual figure from Felbrigg, Norfolk, depicts a male wearing a short tunic which is pulled up to reveal his genitalia (1123). Other examples of Priapus in this stance come from Willemau (Hainaut), Belgium (Faider-Feytmans 1979, 74-5 and pl. 35 no. 58) and Poliez-Pittet, Switzerland (Leibundgut 1980, 34-5 and Taf. 33 no. 27).
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