Most Phallic Building Contest

Most Phallic Building Contest

Phallic architecture is architecture that "consciously or unconsciously provide a symbolic representation of the phallus." Phallic architecture is not solely limited to skyscrapers and obelisks; phallic tombstones and other such structures can be found in graveyards and monuments around the world and to decorate buildings and walls as motifs and in sculptural works. Buildings intentionally or unintentionally resembling the human penis can be the local source of amusement and attract tourists in cities around the world.

Phallic architecture became prominent in ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, where genitalia and human sexuality was a fascination. Both the Greeks and ancient Romans honored the phallus and worshiped Priapus, the well-endowed god of fertility and built temples and monuments to worship him, utilizing phallic architecture and sculpture. The Ancient Greeks celebrated phallic festivals and built a shrine which they called "Herm" with an erect phallus at the entrance of major public buildings, homes and along roads to honor Hermes, messenger of the gods. It is believed that they sought their inspiration from the ancient Egyptians and their phallic image of Lord Menu, the valley god, who was similarly depicted, holding his erect phallus. The ancient Egyptian reverence of the phallus was related with the cult of Osiris. Figures of women with a phallus for head have been found across Greece and Yugoslavia. In these parts of the ancient world, obelisk-like structures resembling the human penis were built, often with phallic symbols, representing human fertility and asserting male sexuality and orgasm. Phallic symbolism was prevalent in the architecture of ancient Babylonia, and the Romans—who were deeply superstitious—often introduced phallic components as architectural pieces and domestic items. Many cultures worldwide, aside from those of the central ancient world, including the Indonesians, the Malians, and the Japanese, also recognized the phallus as a symbol of fertility, featuring it in motifs on their temples and other areas of society. Fetishism with the phallus architecturally and in smaller implements was also exhibited by certain Christian sects in medieval times, such as the Manicheans, and was connected with Masochism and sadism, a form of religious flagellantism. Phallic shrines are common in Far East Asia, especially in Buddhist parts of Korea and Japan, and are seen as symbols of fertility.

In modern times, the most obvious examples of phallic architecture, but more subtle in nature and often subject to interpretation as such, emerged during urban development in the western world during the 20th century, particularly in Chicago and New York City. Scholars of anthropology, sociology, and feminism have pointed out the symbolic nature of phallic architecture, especially large skyscrapers which dominate the landscape as symbols of masculinity, male domination, political authority, power, and violence, as a clear metaphorical statement of male power. There are many examples of modern phallic architecture, including the Washington Monument and the Empire State Building, and the more obvious Ypsilanti Water Tower of Ypsilanti, Michigan and the Torre Agbar of Barcelona, Spain, but very few buildings exist in the west in which the human penis has specifically been cited as a chief inspiration by the architect. Nonetheless, many sculptors have created some public phallic works of art, such as the statue in honor to the Carnation Revolution on the top of one hill in Lisbon, Portugal from the sculptor João Cutileiro.