Archaeology
Priapus is a small fertility god in Greek and Roman mythology, generally portrayed with a large, put up phallus. Provided this rather popular function, it needs to be not a surprise that he was a popular figure in art.
But his praise wasn’t all about inexpensive laughs or porn. Priapus was also a symbol of health and fertility, so it was not uncommon to discover frescos or sculptures portraying him in individuals’s homes.
One such house was a rental property located on the Via Augusta, today’s Carrer Creu Coberta in the Hostafrancs community. A statue of Priapus from the second century was discovered there in1848 It was when 3 meters tall, though it now lacks a head. The sculpture illustrates the god hitching up his tunic to hold a bounty of vegetables and fruits, while likewise showcasing his crucial part. It more than likely served as the entryway to a garden or the home itself.
The Priapus statue was contributed to Barcelona after its discovery, however not place on display in the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia till 1986.
