Phallic Worship: A History of Sex and Sex Rites in Relation to the Religions of All Races From Antiquity to the Present Day

by George Ryley Scott

A classic study of the subject, well illustrated.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sexuality, History, Religion, Mythology

267 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1941

Reviews

[Ladylynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than you ever wanted to know about our human history. Nothing is as you think. Once you read these books the world makes more sense.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding and essential for the study of religion. This book is a little outdated in some of its terminology, but that shouldn't be a problem for an intelligent, educated reader. Highly recommended essential reading.

[Kenneth Laddish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew that Hinduism and Shinto made a big deal about their deities' genitalia. I knew Phallic processions called phallika in ancient Greece, were a common feature of Dionysiac celebrations; they were processions that advanced to a cult center, and were characterized by obscenities and verbal abuse

It turns out The christian Jewish and Muslim deity is *way* more into wieners than even
the ancient Egyptians. Ever wonder aboutcir

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. Highly recommend it if you are interested in the genesis of religion.

[Joseph Hirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we have an anthropological history of wang worship through the ages. All kidding aside, a distinction needs to be made between phallus and penis before proceeding. For the ancients (and some of their remnants, who continue to practice such rites) the phallus symbol had many uses and meaning, aside from its literal generative function in sex. Many phallus statues were erected (ho-ho) in the hopes of bringing in good crop harvests, or bountiful catches when fishermen cast their nets into the seas. Other stones shaped into phalli served as strange seats where young maidens would have their hymens punctured in the hopes of propitiating those gods and goddesses who might allow them to be fruitful and multiply.

Ultimately "Phallic Worship" is an accessible, lively (and yes, sometimes slightly ribald) look at various times and cultures where shame had nothing to do with sex, and the sexual imperative was regarded not as dirty, but a glorious and human instantiation of a principle always and at work among the Gods and in nature. The longest section in the book seems to be devoted to the ancient phallic rites of India. This seems due not to a bias or an excess of interest in the area on the author's part, but simply a result of the evidence pointing to such forms of worship making their greatest...penetration on the subcontinent. With a ton of photos, inscriptions, and all manner of potsherds and crop circles and other archeological wonders. Highest recommendation.

[Tucker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The language feels deliberately obfuscated, as if for the good old reasons of Victorian prudery. The author, George Ryley Scott (1886-1980), began writing about sex in the 1920s in Britain. This title was first privately printed in 1941. Any given sentence is tough to wade through, but the book as a whole makes its general idea fairly explicit. In any case, Scott name-drops a bunch of gods and goddesses so, if one appeals to you, then you can check out that deity in more detail somewhere else.

[C. M. Kosemen · Rating 2 out of 5]

So apparently all ancient religions, plus Hinudism, Shinto, plus all hidden folk religions, plus all present-day monotheistic religions have a secret basis in the worship of sexual joy. Every pillar, snake, hill, sacred stone, or otherwise upright symbol throughout history, is secretly a symbol of this "phallic religion". If you believe that, you'll believe anything! Superficial and sweeping - made tolerable only by occasional interesting historic footnote.