The history of lesbianism and sex toys

There are countless records of women using dildos, back to the dawn of time. But I'm interested in how dildos were used by lesbians.

Diaries of Anne Lister

Ann Lister is one of the most famous lesbians of all time. My interest was first piqued when I was reading her Secret Diaries and came across this entry: "In my mind thought of her using a phallus to her friend." (1st September, 1823.) Eureka! It was like discovering gold. Clearly, Anne (pictured left) knew what a phallus was, and knew how to use it!

So that dates the dildo in lesbian sex back to 1823, at least. Can we push the date even further? How about a thousand years? Two thousand?

Sappho and sex

There are scores of Ancient Greek references to women using dildos on themselves, but did they use them on each other? Happily, we need look no further than Sappho, the great 6th-century BC lesbian poet of Lesbos. Sappho left behind many beautiful references to lesbian love - but did she strap-up for her adoring students? Controversy abounds, but in a tiny fragment of poetry, she writes: "strike the strings...receiving the olisbos." (Olisbos was the ancient Greek word for dildo.) And if it's good enough for Sappho..!

Chinese lesbians

Let's turn back the clock to 770 BC. Even the most prudish historians agree that in the Chou Dynasty in Ancient China, female homosexuality abounded. The theory was that women had infinite yin essence, so they could give and receive their yin essences with each other, no problems at all. On the other hand, it was considered unhealthy for a man to engage in any sexual act without a woman around, as he would lose his vital yang essence.

To cater to the happily cavorting Chinese women, there were dildo artisans, who made beautiful objects out of bronze, wood, jade and ivory. The seven famous bronze dildos that were found recently were thought to be used by palace maids on aristocratic ladies and imperial concubines.

Ancient dildos

Can we go further back in time? Well, unfortunately for the more prudish historians, we now can! Artefacts from the Upper Palaeolithic era were once described as 'batons' (Antler bone dildo pictured right, read more here.). But to a modern eye, their use is fairly apparent . We can't 'prove' they were used by women on women, but nor can anyone prove they were used for any other reason.

Third sex

To end this little homage to the proud history of the strap-on in lesbian love, we'd like to take a moment to nod at the 'third-sex' imagery that has been around since the beginning of time: a figure with breasts and a penis. Reoccurring throughout cultures all over the world, the figure symbolises the coming together of male and female energies into one incredible, powerful being.
And in some ways, you do feel incredible and powerful wearing a strap-on.

You are the modern embodiment of a sexual archetype that has lived in human consciousness since the beginning of time.

Find out more about the best (modern day!) lesbian strap-ons. 

Special thanks to:
silentmotionyoga.com
livescience.com
sufriedrich.com
reuniting.info

The Secret Diaries of
Miss Anne Lister