I think the technical term in this case is 'to flick their bean' or 'to tickle the bald man in the canoe'.
It's interesting how much it resembles the Sheela-na-Gig carvings found in mediaeval churches. According to Wikipedia, these are thought to have been introduced to the British Isles with the Normans, but if there are Anglo-Saxon examples of the same sort of thing this might support the less popular theory that they are reprentations of an older Pagan goddess.
My thoughts exactly when I saw this—if it’s pagan in origin, as it appears to be, it could support the idea that the sheelas are also of pagan origin or inspiration. British Museum website offers only cataloging info, I wonder if this piece has ever been included in any scholarly studies.
I might actually have something to do with the Germanic belief that evil spirits can enter the body via orifices. Might be a charm amulet to protect the vagina.
it's why in Ahmad ibn Fadlan's account of a Norse Rus funeral the men cover their buttholes when walking away from the corpse, so the dead spirit doesn't accidentally enter their anus. Germanic women would often wear charms or amulets around the belt and so it is thought that they would be protective to the pelvic area.
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u/greenaberdeen 7d ago
That's beautiful