Sex In History Essay -- Sexuality

As we human beings cast off changed and evolved over our thousands of years of recorded history, so have our attitudes and expressions of all things sexual. The only thing that hasnt changed much is societys desire to engagement a certain amount of control over an individuals sexual behavior. Whether it be through church or state, educational institutions or popular media of the time, there have been rules and regulations, views and taboos about what we should do sexually, how we should do it, who we should do it with and even how we should think about doing it. Body part A particular area of interest, naturally, has been the body and specifically those parts that are obviously attached with sex. Weve alternately hidden and displayed, worshiped and derided male and female genitalia. In most non-Christian cultures there were gods and goddesses of power and fertility with exaggerated genitals. Some cultures desire penis gods so much they had several for instance, the ancient Greek s honored Priapus, Dionysus and Hermes. The Egyptians exalted Osiris, Bacchus was the Roman version, and Shiva reigned in India. Penis and, less commonly, vulva worship, were practiced and this was reflected in objects connected with daily living. Vases in classical Greece were decorated with phalluses. In the ruins of Pompeii penis symbols were found just about everywhere, on bowls, lamps and figurines. Pitchers with enormous penis spouts were a unique peculiarity of the Mochica culture of Peru. The exteriors of medieval Irish churches were adorned with sculptures of Shelah-na-Gig, a vulva icon. In Egypt enormous symbols of penis power the obelisk were erected all over the landscape. Smaller penis symbols in the form of amulets and bracelet... ... modern birth control emerged in Egypt about 300 BC. There they used mechanical and chemical methods that foreshadow modern diaphragms, cervical caps and spermicides. Their versions include lint pads soaked in honey and acacia tips, an d crocodile dung compacted with auyt-gum, both to be inserted into the vagina as a barrier to semen. Some Romans of the 4th century decided that the best stylus to prevent unwanted pregnancy was to diminish a wifes desire for sexual intercourse. Specific methods included mouse dung liniment swallowing pigeon droppings mixed with rock oil and wine or rubbing her loins with the blood of ticks off a wild black bull. Condoms began to come into their own during the 18th century. They were usually made of sheep gut, or sometimes fish skin, and were originally introduced not for prevention of pregnancy but as a protection against syphilis.