This meant Hebrew athletes traveling to Greece to compete could, as they say, do as the Athenians did: They gathered up their not-so-diminished foreskins and tied their penises up in little bundles. According to a 2007 paper in Reproductive Health Matters, Jewish circumcision up until around 300 BCE required just the removal of the very tip of the foreskin. It seems to have been quite popular among male singers and performers, who were likely leaning into the belief that ejaculation diminished their artistic abilities.Īccording to some scholars, this trend even influenced the act of religious circumcision. But there are many pieces of art and historical texts referencing this practice (and the related use of metal pins to keep foreskin shut over the penis) in non-athletes. One of the most famous examples of the practice is shown in the ancient bronze sculpture known as “The Boxer,” where the penis is not just secured within the foreskin, but tucked and tied up out of the way. In fact, a smaller penis was considered a sign of self-control and intellect, while a large one-especially if it didn’t have a foreskin to hide demurely inside of-was a sign of barbarism. We discussed this a bit on a recent episode of Weirdest Thing, but to make a long story short, size was not everything in Ancient Greece. The preference for foreskin over the rest of the external sex organ seems to have mostly been due to cultural attitudes around sex and penises at the time. In doing so, they essentially bundled the glans of the penis snugly into a little goodie bag, ensuring it wouldn’t peek out to say hello while they were playing sports (or just plain playing) in the buff.

While researching weird historical sex stuff (as one does) and trying to determine whether or not Prince Albert really had a penis piercing (he probably didn’t) I came across the fascinating phenomenon of the kynodesmē, which is Greek for “dog tie.” In Ancient Greece and Rome it was common-trendy, even-for young people with penises to grasp the ends of their foreskins, pull them up over the glans, and use pieces of sticky paper or strips of string or leather to fasten them shut.

FACT: A jaunty foreskin trend may have influenced religious circumcision

Guys playing with their dicks