Ancient statues, especially the Greek ones, depict powerful figures, often deities or important individuals in history, with a marble physique, sculpted abs and… of minute attributes. Have you ever wondered why? The latter is cultural and linked to a belief of its own dating back to the land of philosophers.
In ancient Greece, having small sized “family jewels” was a plus sign of virtue, civility, self-control or discipline. Heroes, gods, athletes and men of power were all depicted this way because they were considered rational and capable of control one’s “animal” partshowing coolness and self-control.
In contrast to these figures of great principles we find the satyrs (according to mythology creatures partly men, partly animals and totally lacking in moderation) and other types of non-“ideal” men, who were represented with very large genitals, just to underline their lack of self-control and their animal instincts; a sign of lust, of gluttonous appetites and barbarism worthy of the worst.
In his comedy The Clouds (c. 419–423 BC), the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes he summed up the ideal traits of his male peers as “a glowing chest, glowing skin, broad shoulders, tiny tongue, strong buttocks, and tiny genitals.Historian Paul Chrystal has also confirmed the theories: “the small penis was in keeping with Greek ideals of male beauty,” he writes in his book In bed with the ancient Greeks (2016). “It was a badge of the highest culture and an example of civilization“.
