Bizarre Things That Turned On the Ancient Egyptians (9 photos)

What do we really know about Ancient Egypt? Cleopatra, papyrus, pyramids, mummies… and sex toys? As it turns out, the ancients were no strangers to the pleasures of the flesh. And to be honest, some of their preferences were downright unsettling.





Penises for the Dead



Even if you know next to nothing about Ancient Egypt, you've probably heard about their deep belief in a vibrant afterlife. Naturally, the Egyptians had no intention of giving up carnal pleasures once they passed on, and they meticulously planned for eternity.





Rich and respected Egyptians weren't buried just with essentials like food, drink, and personal belongings—servants, horses, and… prosthetic penises and artificial nipples were also laid to rest with them. That's right: archaeologists have uncovered fake dildos attached to male mummies and artificial nipples on female mummies. The Egyptians believed these accessories would come in handy in the afterlife, allowing the deceased to enjoy sex whenever and with whomever they pleased.

Lotus Wine



Sounds romantic, right? We know the Egyptians loved to let loose and weren't shy about using stimulants like alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis. But they also indulged in far more exotic substances that you couldn't just pick up at a corner shop (not that you could buy cocaine and weed there either, thankfully). One prime example was the blue water lily, better known as the "blue lotus." This plant held immense cultural significance in Ancient Egypt, serving medicinal, religious, and cosmetic purposes. But its uses didn't stop there…



Turin Erotic Papyrus

Blue-lotus-infused wine served as fuel for orgies. It contained the alkaloids apomorphine and nuciferine, which offered both psychoactive and powerful aphrodisiac effects.

The Turin Papyrus—essentially the Playboy of Ancient Egypt—depicts women engaging in explicit sexual acts, wearing nothing but lotus flowers woven into their hair.

Dildos Made of Camel Dung



The lack of rubber and silicone didn't stop the ancient Egyptians. While the wealthy could afford dildos made of solid gold, the average Egyptian had to be far more inventive—and much less squeamish. We already know about sex toys carved from stone, wood, and bone, but these had one major flaw: their unforgiving rigidity. Sometimes, people wanted something a little softer. Enter the camel… or rather, camel dung. A phallus molded from camel waste proved remarkably flexible, customizable in size, and easy to shape. Once formed, it was coated in resin and left to dry into a hardened, smooth shell.

Cleopatra's Bees



Aside from her famous love triangles with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, Cleopatra was hardly averse to taking other lovers. And when no suitable partner was around, she found creative ways to satisfy herself. While it's hard to separate fact from Roman propaganda—which painted the Egyptian queen as hypersexual—legend has it that she filled a hollowed-out gourd with angry bees to create a primitive vibrator. History is silent on whether this DIY toy ever resulted in a sting, but we definitely wouldn't recommend trying this trick at home.

Olive Oil



You can probably guess what they used it for—aside from dressing salads. Olive oil was a common personal lubricant, especially when natural lubrication wasn't enough. Unlike many ancient civilizations, Egypt didn't stigmatize same-sex encounters, making extra lubrication all the more useful. Just a quick public service announcement: modern medical experts strongly advise against using oil (whether olive or motor) as an intimate lubricant today.

Aphrodisiac Foods



The Egyptians believed certain foods had the power to ignite passion. Among them were pomegranates, mandrake root (no, it doesn't scream like in Harry Potter), and onions. While few people today would munch on raw onions before a first date, ancient Egyptians were convinced that its pungent flavor was a potent turn-on. In fact, celibate priests were strictly forbidden from eating these foods to prevent them from succumbing to temptation.

You might wonder what could possibly be sexy about lettuce. However, the varieties grown in Ancient Egypt were much taller, firmer, and larger than what we buy today. When cut, they secreted a milky white sap that bore an unmistakable resemblance to… well, you get the picture.

The Golden Dildo



Not wanting his beloved Cleopatra to get lonely while he was away, Julius Caesar presented his mistress with a very special gift: a solid gold dildo. (Whether this was before or after the bee-in-a-gourd incident remains a mystery.)