Priapus of Hostafrancs

Priapus is a minor fertility god in Greek and Roman mythology, usually depicted with a large, erect phallus. Given this rather prominent feature, it should be no surprise that he was a popular figure in art.

But his worship wasn’t all about cheap laughs or pornography. Priapus was also a symbol of health and fertility, so it was not unusual to find frescos or sculptures depicting him in people’s homes.

One such home was a villa located on the Via Augusta, today’s Carrer Creu Coberta in the Hostafrancs neighborhood. A statue of Priapus from the second century was discovered there in 1848. It was once three meters tall, though it now lacks a head. The sculpture depicts the god hitching up his tunic to hold a bounty of fruits and vegetables, while also showcasing his most important part. It most likely served as the entrance to a garden or the home itself.

The Priapus statue was donated to Barcelona after its discovery, but not put on display in the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia until 1986.