History of Sex Toys

The history of sex toys dates back to ancient civilizations where objects such as dildos and masturbators were used for sexual pleasure and as fertility symbols. These early sex toys were often made from materials like stone, wood, and leather, and were often phallic in shape.

In ancient Egypt, for example, dildos were made from a variety of materials including wood and stone, and were often decorated with intricate carvings and symbols. The ancient Greeks also used dildos, which they referred to as "olisbos," and the ancient Romans used a variety of sex toys including dildos, vibrators, and male masturbators.

In the Middle Ages, sex toys fell out of favor due to the dominance of the Catholic Church, which viewed sexual pleasure as sinful. It wasn't until the 18th and 19th centuries that sex toys began to be more widely accepted and used again. 

29000BC

The oldest sex toy known to men is dated around 29000BC. It is a paleolithic stone phallus discovered at Hohle Fels Cave, southwestern Germany by the archeologist Petra Kieselbach. It is speculated if it was actually used as a dildo or was more of a idol sculpture.

However its shape of a real size penis, the way it is polished and the material that it is made of(siltstone) lead the scientists to believe it was used as a sex toy. (source)

500BC

Around 500BC the now famous Ben Wall Balls came into existence in Japan. They were known as Rin no tama. In the original form there was only one ball, and it was designed to enhance a guys pleasure during intercourse.

Eventually they evolved into the familiar toy that we know today, two balls that were designed to help a women improve the strength of her pelvic floor muscles.

First appeared in the West at the end of the 16th century where they were used primarily by men, while in Thailand were being used to promote penis enlargement.(sources 1 & 2)

300BC

The first documented use of a dildo comes from Ancient Greece, where merchants sold something called an olisbos. Fashioned from stone, leather, or in some cases wood, the olisbos became a tool bought primarily by single women – or so the cultural evidence would have us believe.

Miletus, in what is now Balat, Turkey, was known as the production and distribution center of the olisbos (from the word meaning to slip or glide).

1200s

To dip even further east for a moment, there are suggestions that the first double-headed dildo for use between two women was developed in China in the 12th and 13th century, as the below was excavated—but I remain skeptical for reasons already explained above.

double headed ancient dildo

1400s

We next turn to Renaissance Italy, where olisbos became diletto, from the Italian word for delight. The first reference to the modern-day dildo originates in Pietro Aretino’s Dialogues, which is very often considered the first literary pornography and Aretino the “father” of pornography. The Dialogues revolve around the life of Nanna, who is an older courtesan agonizing over what to do with her daughter.

Even with a liberal amount of olive oil as lubricant (no joke!), the diletto was not as comfortable as today’s models. But as evidenced by today’s booming adult toy industry, dildos continued to evolve and grow in popularity.

1592

The dildo avalanche is nearly unstoppable. In English it is first introduced by Thomas Nashe in 1592 Merrie Ballad of Nash, His Dildo also known as Choice of Valentines. The narrator of this poem is a young man who courts a prostitute on valentine’s day and finds that he is, well, not up to the task, and after a number of attempts she gets frustrated and gives up and reaches for her little glass friend.

1734

The clockwork vibrator, or tremoussoir (Exhibit A), was invented in France in 1734 and was available from medical instrument suppliers in the American colonies by the 1750s.

The devices were expensive and thus were purchased mainly by physicians, but there was no obstacle in custom or law to their purchase by any person who could afford them.

1791

1791 saw the publication of “Justine” by the Marquis De Sade, probably the most infamous writer in the history of French literature, who occasionally has been hailed as “the freest spirit who has ever existed.” Marquis de Sade published erotic writings that gave rise to the term sadism – enjoyment of cruelty, which first made it into a dictionary in 1834. His writing not only gave birth to the BDSM movement but popularized many of the bondage toys, such as whips, handcuffs, etc, that are familiar to use today.

1844

When Charles Goodyear discovered by accident how to vulcanize rubber he not only revolutionized the car world but also the sex toy industry. The process of vulcanization made rubber stronger and more durable and eventually led to it being used in the production of condoms, dildos and other sex toys.

1869

George Taylor, M.D., is credited with being the first American to create a steam and foot/hand crank device, in 1880. Taylor’s “Manipulator” simply turned a wheel, which pushed a rod that created a movement on a handle or padded surface. The patient would either hold on to the handle and receive the vibration or oscillations, or sit or stand against the padded surface to receive the movement from the machine.

1882

Dr. Joseph Mortimer Granville patented the first electromechanical vibrator; there were at least two- dozen models available to the medical profession. There were musical vibrators, counterweighted vibrators, vibratory forks, undulating wire coils called vibratiles, vibrators that hung from the ceiling, vibrators attached to tables, floor models on rollers and portable devices that fit in the palm of the hand. And you thought there were a lot of variations in today’s toys -)) In fact by the turn of the century there were complete operating theaters devoted to managing the scourge of hysteria.

1890s

Saw the advent of the motion picture and it wasn’t long before early filmmakers began producing the very first porno flicks. Some of the early films included shots of women masturbating with various sexual aids of the time, and included strap on dildos and massagers.

1900 – 1920

By the turn of the century there were more than 20 vibrator models available, running on electricity, batteries, foot-power or water-power. The prices could vary from a mere $15 to $200 for the Cadillac of the vibrators, the Chattanooga. The vibrator was the fifth household appliance to be electrified, a full 10 years before the vacuum cleaner and the iron. Most of these devices were advertised in respectable women’s magazines of the time such as Modern Priscilla, Women’s Home Companion, McClure’s, and Good Housekeeping.

1917

1917 saw the introduction of KY Jelly. At the time it was designed to aid physicians who were performing pelvic examinations, a function it still serves to this day. However it wasn’t until 1980 that you could buy KY Jelly over the counter. Nowadays there is a veritable smorgasbord of personal lubricants on the market.

1930

As vibrators began to appear in more and more pornographic movies of the time, it became harder and harder for manufacturers to advertise these devices as though they were simply massagers, and slowly but surely they began to disappear from the reputable magazines and mail order ca

One of the first modern sex toys was the vibrator, which was invented in the late 19th century as a treatment for female "hysteria." These early vibrators were large and bulky, and were often used by doctors to treat women who were thought to be suffering from "hysteria," a term used to describe a range of symptoms including anxiety, irritability, and sexual desire.

Today, sex toys are more widely available and accepted than ever before, and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. From traditional dildos and vibrators to more modern creations like virtual reality sex toys and remote-controlled toys, there are now sex toys for almost every preference and desire.

Overall, the history of sex toys is a long and varied one, reflecting changing attitudes towards sexuality and pleasure throughout the ages. Today, sex toys are widely accepted and used by people of all genders and orientations, and are an important part of many people's sexual lives.