The exciting history of sex toys!

Let’s dive into the history of sex toys today! We can already tell you that it’ll be pretty interesting. The first erotic object dates back to 33,000 BC! If you want to know what olive oil and doctors with cramped hands have to do with the history of sex toys, read on.

Once upon a time…

In 33,000 BCE, people in Germany were already crazy about sex. At least, that’s what we conclude now, as the oldest erotic art object was found there. It’s thought to be a fertility figure and it’s called the Venus of Hohle Fel, but it looks like a penis. Totally wild, right? Later, in 28,000 BCE, the very first dildo was created in Germany as well. It was a phallus-shaped object measuring about 20 centimetres.

In 350 BC, Aristotle wrote about the use of olive oil as a lubricant. Large vats of olive oil were found in ancient brothels from that era!

Kama Sutra, Geisha balls and cock rings

In the year 500, the famous book The Kama Sutra was compiled by the Indian philosopher Vatsyayana. The Kama Sutra is really not just about sex positions, as people often think. The book contains everything that has to do with love and relationships. It also talks about different kinds of embraces, kissing, scratching, biting, slapping, sighing, foreplay, and after-play! And did you know that the Kama Sutra is not just about straight couples? Positions for people of the same sex are also covered.

Around this time, Japanese Geisha balls also became popular. These were small balls used by women to train their pelvic floor muscles. Around 1000 years later, the first penis rings were created in China. These cock rings were made of ivory, jade or… goat eyelids.

“The first cock rings were made of ivory, jade or… goat eyelids.”

The 17th century, an era of hysteria

In the 17^th century, the first versions of sex dolls appeared on the market. You can’t really compare these with the lifelike ones you can find nowadays. These dolls were made of old cloths and clothing and were mainly used by sailors who had to spend long periods at sea without their wives.

In this century, the forerunner of the vibrator was born, but it was not a sexual object! Before we can talk more about this, we should explain a bit more about the meaning of hysteria.

Hysteria??

According to Hippocrates, hysteria was “the irregular flow of blood between the uterus and the brain in women”. Hysteria is derived from the Greek word for womb: hystera. Later, Greek physician Galen and psychologist Sigmund Freud linked hysteria to sexual deprivation. It soon became the diagnosis for women who suffered from unexplained pain, depression, sexual excesses, fits of anger, or women who simply had a mind of their own.

“Hysteria is derived from the Greek word for womb: hystera.”

It turned out that the disease was particularly prevalent among women without husbands, or widows. Therefore, these women were sexually unsatisfied and sexually frustrated. However, it could be treated! The remedy was a pelvic floor massage – but only one given by a doctor. Masturbating was considered impure and also extremely dangerous, as they said you could go blind (oh, how little did they know…).

“Women suffering from hysteria were sexually frustrated and therefore suffered from unexplained pains, sexual outbursts and fits of rage.”

The treatment was only successful when the woman had reached an orgasm. The treatment became incredibly popular! Apparently, 25% of all women suffered from ‘chronic’ hysteria. As a result, the waiting rooms of general practitioners were always full! Watch the film Hysteria (2011) if you want to know more (and have a bit of a laugh as well).

Also read: Choose the best vibrator for the best orgasm!

Still, another development was on the rise. Doctors had to help dozens of women to climax every day, and you can imagine that they’d start to feel that in their hands as well! This is why ‘The Manipulator’ was created around 1850. This was a steam-driven vibrator that made life a lot easier for doctors. Not only did they have to put in less effort, women also came a lot faster. In 1902, the first electric vibrators for personal use were introduced. Masturbation was no longer seen as dangerous, so people could indulge themselves to the fullest!

The first sex shop!

There’s no denying it: the Germans are pioneers when it comes to sex! In 1964, power woman Beate Uhse opened the very first sex shop in the world in Germany. It was a huge success and she eventually also opened shops in Amsterdam as well. It’s still a well-known name in Germany today.

If you have any other fun facts, feel free to leave a comment!