The history of sex toys from ancient times!
Some people think the first sex toy was the Hitachi Magic Wand, a vibrator introduced around 1970. Actually, people have used toy-like items to enhance sexual pleasure and pelvic floor since pre-historic times:
. 25,000 B.C. Prehistoric carvings of erotic female figurines with emphasis on their breasts, bellies, hips, bums, and labia lips. Most experts consider them fertility goddesses. However, it’s also possible that they were the porn of their day, used to sexually excite.
3000 BC: The first known sex toys were created in ancient Egypt. These toys took the form of carved wooden dildos - OUCH.
500 BC: Ancient Greeks used olisbos, a type of dildo made from leather, wood, or stone.
200 - 400 BC (estimates dates as sources are limited!) The Chinese invented the first known versions of what we now call "ben wa balls." These small, weighted balls were inserted into the vagina for pleasure, we know them today as kegal balls for pelvic floor exercises. They are single balls, usually made from silver, ans were mentioned in Asian sex writings from Burma to Japan. Some were solid, others hollow with clappers that make a ringing sound as they roll around the vagina (Burmese bells). Originally used to increase men’s pleasure during intercourse, ben wa balls eventually became paired, and were used by women to increase the strength of the pelvic floor muscles . If these muscles are weak, the balls drop out when women stand or walk. But as they become stronger, women can hold the balls inside and supposedly enjoy more intense orgasms.
1st century AD: The Romans used a variety of sex toys, including dildos made from leather, wood, and stone. Some of these toys were even equipped with moving parts.
c 1200. Invention of proto-penis rings. The first documented rings were made in China from the eyelids of goats with eyelashes intact. The eyelids were tied around men’s erections, and the lashes were said to increase lovers’ pleasure. Gross.
Middle Ages to Renaissance:
The Middle Ages and Renaissance were marked by a more conservative and repressive approach to sexuality. As a result, explicit mentions or depictions of sex toys are scarce during this period.
However, there is evidence that some people still used handmade dildos and other similar objects for pleasure. These objects were often made from materials like wood, leather, or bone.
Industrial Revolution to the 19th Century:
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, the manufacturing of sex toys became more widespread. By the 19th century, some commercial manufacturers were producing and selling dildos made from rubber and other materials.
During this time, doctors also used vibrators to treat "female hysteria." These early vibrators were often large, manually operated devices used to bring women to orgasm as a medical treatment.
20th Century:
The early 20th century saw the rise of the electric vibrator. In 1902, the American company Hamilton Beach released the first electric vibrator, initially marketed as a massage tool.
In the 1940s, with the sexual revolution and the increasing openness towards sexuality, the availability and acceptance of sex toys expanded. They became more commonly sold in adult stores and through mail-order catalogs.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the feminist movement played a role in destigmatizing and promoting sex toys as tools for female sexual liberation. This led to the development of more specialized and innovative designs.
In 1976, the company Doc Johnson introduced the first realistic, body-safe silicone dildo, which set a new standard in sex toy materials.
Late 20th Century:
In the late 20th century, the adult industry continued to grow, and the market for sex toys expanded further. The introduction of more advanced materials, such as silicone, allowed for the creation of more diverse and pleasurable toys
In 1998, the Rabbit Pearl vibrator gained widespread popularity after appearing in an episode of the TV show "Sex and the City." This iconic vibrator featured both internal and external stimulation and became a symbol of the modern sex toy industry.
The rest, my friends, is history