The Gods of Generation: A History of Phallic Cults among Ancients and Moderns

by Jacques-Antoine Dulaure

First published in 1805, this immense history is a very documented work on erotic cults. This translation is from the 1885 French edition. The author's enormous researches and lengthy textual matter, and his hundreds of notes and annotations, comprise the most comprehensive guide on the worship of obscene gods and phallic religion.

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1805

About the author

Jacques-Antoine Dulaure est un archéologue, historien et homme politique français.

Reviews

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing work on the cult of the phallus from ancient Egyptian times, including the significance of the bull and the goat relating to astronomic and solar worship, through to the modern (18th century) age, describing contemporary witness reports of rural Italian villagers using the scrapings from local statues of saints furnished with a massive membrum virile. Though this was originally published in France in the early 19th century, the errors are corrected by the translator, A.F.N. (Adolph Niemoeller) in the numerous footnotes, which also includes some supplemental information. It also describes sacred prostitution and ancient Roman holidays such as the Bacchanalia and the Lupercalia. Also briefly mentions possible links to the witches' Sabbath, as well as Saint Foutin, the Christianized Priapus. A comprehensive work on phallicism and "obscene religions", which would complement B.Z. Goldberg's "The Sacred Fire".