For thousands of years, phallic objects have been used symbolically as a means of reducing fertility and preventing eⱱіɩ ѕрігіtѕ, but their use as a sexual aid also has a long history.

A 28,000-year-old phallus recently found in Germany, for example, is cited as the oldest “sex toy” ever found.

While phalluses made of stone, wood, leather and even camel dung have been found during excavation, or are referred to in text and images.

To celebrate this expansive history of sexual experience, the Wellcome Collection currently has a series of formed ceremonial sculptures, among other sexual artefacts, as part of its Institute of Sexology exhibition.

A stone object 7.8 inches (20 cm) long and 1.1 inches (3 cm) wide (pictured) was found in the Hohle Fels cave near Ulm in the Swabian Jura. The prehistoric ‘tool’ is made from 14 siltstone fragments and dates back 28,000 years. Due to its size, experts believe it may be the first example of a sexual aid ever found.

The term dіɩdo was first coined around 1400 AD. C. and originated from the Latin for ‘dilatare’, which means ‘wide open’, and from the Italian for delight, which translates as ‘diletto’.

In the Middle East, historical reports refer to the Egyptians and Greeks using green bananas or resin-covered camel dung as sexual aids.

But aids were used much earlier, as early as 500 BC. C., when phalluses were carved in stone, leather or wood. Some were even made of tar.

In ancient Greece, in particular, reports said that merchants in the city of Miletus made and bought objects called ‘olisbos’, intended to help wives achieve sexual repetition while their husbands were away.

“The profound effect that information gathering and analysis can have on changing attitudes about the human condition, the exhibition reveals our understanding of sexual identity as an ever-evolving story.”

The exhibit features archival material from games, erotica, film, photography, medical artifacts, and ethnography, all related to sex.

In 2005, a stone object 7.8 inches (20 cm) long and 1.1 inches (3 cm) wide was found in the Hohle Fels cave near Ulm in the Swabian Alb.

The prehistoric ‘tool’ is made from 14 siltstone fragments and dates back 28,000 years.

Because of its size, experts believe it may be the oldest example of a sexual aid ever found, but it could also have been used to knap flints to help start fires, said Professor Nicholas Conard, from the department of Early Prehistory and Ecology. Quaternary, at the University of Tübingen.

During excavation at the Membury Rings Neolithic site in Dorset in the early 20th century, archaeologists found several deposits of artefacts and other materials, including antlers, animal and human bones, flints and carved chalk.

Symbol: In Türkiye, during the 6th century BC. C., the ancient Anatolians used sculptures of sexual organs (pictured) to protect themselves from eⱱіɩ and bad luck, as they believed they contained special powers.

During excavation at the Membury Rings Neolithic site in Dorset, archaeologists found several deposits of artefacts and other materials, including antlers, animal and human bones, and flints. Among these artifacts was a phallic-shaped object made of chalk (pictured) measuring 4 inches long. However, its use is unknown.

Among these artifacts was a phallic-shaped object made of chalk and measuring approximately 4 inches long. However, its use is unknown.

But the sculptures were not used only for sexual pleasure.

In some pagan cultures, the female orgasm was considered an offering to the gods of fertility, while the phallic symbol was popular during ancient Roman times.

In particular, statues of the fertility god Priapus with a large phallus would be used to protect gardens and help crops grow.

In Greek mythology, Priapus was depicted with an oversized erection, which is where the name of the medical term priapism originated.

Priapism is a persistent and often painful erection that lasts several hours, usually for weeks.

Statues of the fertility god Priapus with a large phallus would be used to protect gardens and help crops grow. Priapus was often depicted with an oversized and repaired erection, which is where the name of the medical term priapism originated. Priapism is a persistent and often painful erection that lasts for hours.

Phallic amulets of the time were known as fascinum (examples pictured), and were even found in the ruins of Pompeii, and it was believed that the symbols could prevent eⱱіɩ ѕрігіtѕ. Used in ancient Roman religion and magic, the fascinum referred to the god Fascinus. The phallus was used to invoke divine protection.

A solid bronze amulet, in the shape of Priapus, is among the artefacts on display in the Wellcome Collection.

Phallic amulets of the time were known as fascinum, and were even found in the ruins of Pompeii, and it was believed that the symbols could be protected from eⱱіɩ ѕрігіtѕ.

Used in ancient Roman religion and magic, the fascinum referred to the god Fascinus. The phallus was used to invoke divine protection.

Meanwhile, the phallic deity Mutunus Tutunus was a symbol of marital sex.

In Türkiye, during the 6th century BC. C., the ancient Anatolians used sculptures of sexual organs to protect themselves from euphoria and bad luck, as they believed they contained special powers.

Much later, in 18th century France, the first vibrator called the Tremoussoir was built. It was a manual wind-up contraption designed by doctors.

In 1869, American physician George Taylor is credited with creating a steam-powered version called the Manipulator, before Dr. Joseph Granville developed an electromechanical vibrator in 1880.

Far from being sexual aids, these devices were said to be used to treat female hysteria.

Reports claim that doctors since the 13th century believed that women had libido and advised using sex toys to relieve sexual attraction.

Doctors during the 20th century would use vibrators for clitoral stimulation to treat this so-called hysteria, which comes from the Greek word for uterus.

Symptoms of hysteria included anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and erotic fantasies.

One such vibrator, called the Veedee, is on display in the Wellcome Collection, but a spokesperson told MailOnline that its use as a Victorian tool by doctors to induce orgasms has been disputed as a myth.

The first rubber dildos date back to around 1850 and began appearing in movies during the 1930s and 1940s.

At this point, many were called marital helps, rather than sexual helps.

“At the turn of the century, the vibrator split into two product lines,” explained technology historian Rachel Maines.

‘One was for doctors and one was for consumers, and the doctors really hated the idea that consumer vibrators didn’t exist.

‘There were these relatively cheap ones, some that looked like a people’s egg beater that had no efficiency. And there were those with batteries.

‘There were even water-powered ones that you could hook up to your sink!’

A solid bronze amulet, in the shape of Priapus, is among the artefacts on display in the Wellcome Collection.