Surprisingly, in ancient times, a smaller penis was actually more desired by women. A large penis was seen as grotesque or animal like. That’s why in old works of art such as paintings and statues, men were depicted with small genitals.
Ummm… sorry to be “that guy”, but it’s actually well documented that the statues were mutilated by later Christians to be less “vulgar”, thus the carving down of the genitals.
Christians didn’t carve down genitals on statues. They chiseled them off.
Further: “The Greeks saw penises as symbolic of masculinity. And in their view, the most important masculine virtue was self-control. To their eyes, a small penis looked self-controlled, whereas a large or erect penis showed lack of self-control. There are speeches in ancient comedy that make this crystal clear, but it’s clear in the artworks as well.”
This is actually true, I read about it in one of my Humanities classes in which we studied Greco-Roman sculpture. Also the original version of Scilla had 7 vaginas with wolves coming out of them.
Though the double entendre is intended (such as with Dirk Diggler from “Boogie Nights”), it was created to sound like “Flash Gordon” or “Buck Rogers” (“Buzz Lightyear” came later).
To my great pride and joy, it was used in “The Fairly Odd Parents” as a character in a cartoon within a cartoon there (Timmy Turner’s comic book hero “Crash Nebula”).
That said, a possibility would have happened after the introduction of the Romans into the Greek world. Would the Greeks have seen the possibilities for togas parties? We may never know…
When Tomb Raider 1 came out, morons used a Roman Coliseum for the Greek stuff. They realized their mistake when they were doing Anniversary, but they had to keep it in game.
Interesting level to play thru. I recall hearing this thru Tomb Raider Anniversary commentary, but its been awhile since I’ve heard it.
Well, to be fair, he should also be the god of horrific deaths from sexually transmitted disease. Prior to viagra, the only common cause of priapism was the the destruction nerves controlling the penis by syphilis.
While it used to believed that syphilis originated in the New World. It’s now believed that contact between the Old and New World merely swapped strains infecting each population with strains they had no resistance to. So, Priapus might have been inspired by a syphilitic Greek who couldn’t call Hippocrates after 4 hours.
Absolutely, but running a supertanker into the shoals is its own set of problems…and then there’s the endless suggestions to name a battleship after it.
Awww, man! I was looking at the comments to see if anyone else caught it. Too little, too late. And no, I’m not talking about the other subject of the comments above. And Entomologically speaking, Bug ain’t nothing to write home about when it comes to “endowment”. Many insects … uh … nether regions are equal to 1/4 total length of the body. That would be equal to a 6′ human male’s genitalia measuring 18″.
Sort of ridiculous, actually.
First time commenter, longtime RSS subscriber. Your comic is awesome!
Why don’t you have a facebook page? I was going to like your page on facebook and try to share Bug Comic with more people that way, but you don’t have a page…
In the stable, Mediterranean climate, clothes where seldom a practical necessity save for modesty. Greeks often worked in next to nothing, usually just a loincloth like arraignment to keep their gentleman’s tackle out between the block being laid in the Parthenon. As such, they didn’t really have the concept of a modesty taboo for men. Women were a different story but men could have their wang out as much as they want as long as it wasn’t out “for business.”
Likewise, only women were required to be monogamous. Men could screw anything except the wives and daughters social equals. Social inferiors, male and female, foreigners and slaves, all or almost any age were fair game.
Judaism and later Christianity were unique in requiring monogamy and chastity from men as well as women even if only in the idea. Most Christian sexual repression was directed at controlling men’s roving eye. In doing so, they created the first steps toward the equality of the sexes even if only in ideal.
Our custom that men don’t expose themselves is really based on the idea of moral equality and obligation innate in Christianity.
Surprisingly, in ancient times, a smaller penis was actually more desired by women. A large penis was seen as grotesque or animal like. That’s why in old works of art such as paintings and statues, men were depicted with small genitals.
I thought they just ran out of clay.
MUST. GET. TIME MACHINE.
“When my calculations are correct, as soon as this baby hits 88 miles per hour… we’re gonna bang some greek chicks!”
Ewww.
If my, not when my.
I think this is funny either way.
Nowhere here does Adam state or imply that Bug has a bigger column. Interesting fact nonetheless.
Ummm… sorry to be “that guy”, but it’s actually well documented that the statues were mutilated by later Christians to be less “vulgar”, thus the carving down of the genitals.
I believe that’s a misconception, although I haven’t been able to find anything to back that up.
Um, sorry to be that guy, but internet research isn’t that difficult. https://www.oscarwildetours.com/penises-in-art-unhung-heroes-tour/
Christians didn’t carve down genitals on statues. They chiseled them off.
Further: “The Greeks saw penises as symbolic of masculinity. And in their view, the most important masculine virtue was self-control. To their eyes, a small penis looked self-controlled, whereas a large or erect penis showed lack of self-control. There are speeches in ancient comedy that make this crystal clear, but it’s clear in the artworks as well.”
This is actually true, I read about it in one of my Humanities classes in which we studied Greco-Roman sculpture. Also the original version of Scilla had 7 vaginas with wolves coming out of them.
Yikes.
Huh. Came to Bug to laugh. Also learned stuff about Greek history. Who’da thunk it?
Jep – True story.
Had a woman tell me one time, “You’re not putting that thing inside of *me*” after the unveiling.
It’s a curse, I tells ya.
..So that’s why your name is Lance Thruster?
Though the double entendre is intended (such as with Dirk Diggler from “Boogie Nights”), it was created to sound like “Flash Gordon” or “Buck Rogers” (“Buzz Lightyear” came later).
To my great pride and joy, it was used in “The Fairly Odd Parents” as a character in a cartoon within a cartoon there (Timmy Turner’s comic book hero “Crash Nebula”).
I think they had small genitals in the statues/paintings as a symbol that brain (or knowledge) is more important than Penis. (sexual desires).
Well, important to note it was specifically Greco-Roman, not ancient times in general.
Well, Zeus’ reputation as a womanizer is quite well known…..
Soo, he packin’ it small with a pet bed name of Tiny?
Might’ve been a little hard to tell sometimes.. If I recall correctly, he also impregnated females by taking on the form of light, rain, or the wind.
Of course, he was also a swan once…
In the words of John “Bluto” Blutarsky: “Toga! Toga! Toga!”
Yes, I don’t care if the Greeks did have Toga parties like the Romans did.
Yeah, they didn’t. On account of not having togas.
That said, a possibility would have happened after the introduction of the Romans into the Greek world. Would the Greeks have seen the possibilities for togas parties? We may never know…
When Tomb Raider 1 came out, morons used a Roman Coliseum for the Greek stuff. They realized their mistake when they were doing Anniversary, but they had to keep it in game.
Interesting level to play thru. I recall hearing this thru Tomb Raider Anniversary commentary, but its been awhile since I’ve heard it.
But the gods also wore those togas… so do they say “Titans bless you”?
“Now I see why Cronus thought that rock was you!”
Great comic, man! Must save this one for myself! 😀
nothing less than pure genius.
The Greeks didn’t wear togas. Togas were an exclusively Roman thing. Greeks wore chitons – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiton_%28costume%29. Much easier to wear.
Just sayin’.
Shouldn’t that last panel read “gods blessed you”? The Greeks were polytheistic, after all. Or am I ignorant about the Greek god of… um… “endowment”?
” Or am I ignorant about the Greek god of… um… “endowment”?”
Amazing people, the ancient Greeks, they did have a god of endowment, so to speak. His name was Priapus or Priapos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priapus
Priapus is marked by his absurdly oversized, permanent erection, which gave rise to the medical term priapism.
I think of him as the first answer to sexual repression, Priapus the Fundie Frightener.
Well, to be fair, he should also be the god of horrific deaths from sexually transmitted disease. Prior to viagra, the only common cause of priapism was the the destruction nerves controlling the penis by syphilis.
While it used to believed that syphilis originated in the New World. It’s now believed that contact between the Old and New World merely swapped strains infecting each population with strains they had no resistance to. So, Priapus might have been inspired by a syphilitic Greek who couldn’t call Hippocrates after 4 hours.
I guess she’s just so stunned she can’t think straight? :p Or she means to say some god blessed him…
“It’s not the size of the trireme but the motion of the ocean.”
But wouldn’t you rather have a nice big yacht than a little dinghy? 😉
Absolutely, but running a supertanker into the shoals is its own set of problems…and then there’s the endless suggestions to name a battleship after it.
Last panel is definitely on my list of some of the best Bug comics/panels ever
I agree! Love this comic-glad no one was in the office when I read this one cause I snorted. lol
… Look at that, look at that
Fastest thing on two feet
Yeesh.. no one else caught the Ray Stevens joke?
Yah, I did.
Yes, some of us did, but you’d have to be at least 45 yrs old to know it when it was released, and probably at least 50 to know why it was funny.
Awww, man! I was looking at the comments to see if anyone else caught it. Too little, too late. And no, I’m not talking about the other subject of the comments above. And Entomologically speaking, Bug ain’t nothing to write home about when it comes to “endowment”. Many insects … uh … nether regions are equal to 1/4 total length of the body. That would be equal to a 6′ human male’s genitalia measuring 18″.
Sort of ridiculous, actually.
First time commenter, longtime RSS subscriber. Your comic is awesome!
Why don’t you have a facebook page? I was going to like your page on facebook and try to share Bug Comic with more people that way, but you don’t have a page…
Thanks!
I may start a Facebook page someday. I got a lot of other things to do first.
In the stable, Mediterranean climate, clothes where seldom a practical necessity save for modesty. Greeks often worked in next to nothing, usually just a loincloth like arraignment to keep their gentleman’s tackle out between the block being laid in the Parthenon. As such, they didn’t really have the concept of a modesty taboo for men. Women were a different story but men could have their wang out as much as they want as long as it wasn’t out “for business.”
Likewise, only women were required to be monogamous. Men could screw anything except the wives and daughters social equals. Social inferiors, male and female, foreigners and slaves, all or almost any age were fair game.
Judaism and later Christianity were unique in requiring monogamy and chastity from men as well as women even if only in the idea. Most Christian sexual repression was directed at controlling men’s roving eye. In doing so, they created the first steps toward the equality of the sexes even if only in ideal.
Our custom that men don’t expose themselves is really based on the idea of moral equality and obligation innate in Christianity.