The Phallus in Art & Culture

The Phallus in Art & Culture examines cultural expressions about the penis from across the world. This richly-illustrated, 160-page book was written by Dr. Johan J. Mattelaer and published by the EAU in 2001.

In the words of its author:

The primary aim of this book is to demonstrate that the veneration or worship of the phallus and the culture surrounding it is a universal phenomenon, and the basis of many primitive and present day religions. It has grown from travelling to countless places, taking hundreds of photographs, from studying local cultures, and from contact with many individuals and peoples. Because it was written with an open mind, it is in the first place a personal description and interpretation of how we ourselves became acquainted with the phenomenon of phallicism.

It is also a picture book, and we have tried to include as many pictures as possible of objects that have never been published before. Although the text is primarily descriptive, it has a sound scientific basis. The sources are listed in the bibliography.