MOUNT

A complete copper alloy Roman phallic mount. The shaft is elongated, triangular in cross-section, with a concave reverse and tapers gradually towards the outer end. The tip is rounded and defined by a raised transverse ridge. A small rounded testicle projects to each side of the base of the shaft, their inner edges each defined by a raised ridge. To either end of the reverse a long circular cross-sectioned attachment lug projects. It survives in fine condition with a shiny green patina.

Johns (1982, 62) suggests that phallic objects were worn as good-luck charms with amuletic properties. They appear to have been particularly associated with the military and their Suffolk distribution shows a bias towards sites with military phases or retired military residents (Plouviez 2005). This example is very similar to a group of three from Pakenham, although these all had ribbed shafts (ibid., fig.2). Of this other example Plouviez (ibid.) writes '...it is impossible to tell whether the sheet backing was part of a pendant or a larger object and, though similar to the Coddenham example, this one seems too large to be a seal box lid'.

A first to second century date range seems likely. An example has also been recorded from Verulamium in a AD 150/155-160 context (Frere 1972, 120, 46), two from South Shields, one in a AD 150-155/60 context (Allason-Jones and Miket 1984, 188, fig.3.588/9) and two from Colchester in post-Roman contexts (Crummy 1983, 139, nos.4255 & 4257).

Length: 28.33mm, width: 14.61mm, thickness: 4.71mm, weight: 4.08g