PHAL'LUS, a representation of the male generative organs, used at certain Dionysian festivals in ancient Greece, as a symbol of the powers of procreation. It was an object of common worship throughout the nature-religion of the east, and was mired by mani fold names, such us linga (q.v.), joni, pollear, etc. Originally it had no other meaning than the allegorical one of that mysterious union between the male and female, which throughout nature seems to be the sole condition of the continuation of the existence of animated beings; but at a later period, more particularly when ancient Rome had become the hot-bed of all natural and unnatural vices, its worship became an intoler able nuisance, and was put clown by the senate on account of the more than usual inunorality to which it gave rise. Its origin has given rise to much speculation, but no certainty has been arrived at by investigators. The Plienicians traced its introduction into their worship to Adonis, the Egyptians to Osiris, the Phrygians to Attys. the Greeks to Dionysus. The common myth concernin,g ft was the story of some god deprived of his powers of generation—an allusion to the sun, which in autumn loses its fructify ing influence. The procession in which it was carried about was called phallagogia, or
per;phallia, and a certain hymn was sung on that occasion, called the Phallikon 11felos. The bearers of the phallus, which generally consisted of red leather, and was attached to an enormous pole, were the Phallophoroi. Phalli were on those occasions worn as ornaments round the neck, or attached to the body. Aristotle traces the origin of comedy to the ribaldry and the improvised jokes customary on those festivals. Phalli were often attached to statues, and of a prodigious size; sometimes they were even movable. At a procession of Ptolemy Philadelphus, a phallus was carried about made of gold, and 120 yds. long. Before the temple of Venus at Hierapolis there stood two phalli, 180 ft. high, upon which a priest mounted annually, and remained there in prayer for SCVCII days. The phallus was an attribute of Pau, Priapus, and to a certaint extent also of Hermes.