The English word "fascinate” is derived from the Latin term fascinus. A fascinus supposedly had the power to put into trance, and the Latin verb "fascinare” means both "to use the power of the fascinus” and "to practice magic” in a more general sense.

In ancient - pre-Christian - Rome, Fascinus actually meant a flying phallus that invoked the protection of the Roman god Fascinus.

Bronze ‘flying phallus’ amulet, Rome, 1st BCE. It would be hung outside a house or shop doorway to ward off evil spirits.

Phallic charms often winged – invoking the Roman god Fascinus -, were ubiquitous in Roman culture, from jewelry to bells and wind chimes to lamps.The fascinus was thought particularly to ward off evil from children, mainly boys, and from conquering generals. There was a custom of hanging a phallic charm on a baby's neck, and examples have been found of phallus-bearing rings too small to be worn except by children.

As Christianity took hold over Rome, they wiped out any parts of the Roman religion deemed too sexual, hence not much is known about the god Fascinus. Christians also wiped out most references to a related minor god, the wonderfully named Mutunus Tutunus, most likely because of a marriage tradition in which Roman brides supposedly "straddled the phallus of Mutunus to prepare themselves for intercourse.”

Phalluses were considered good luck charms. They were worn as charms on necklaces or hung in doorways as wind chimes as a way to ward off evil spirits.

Masculinity! 💪