Name That List, #57

What is this a list of? The answer is below in extended.

From Libyan generals: 6
From Libyans: 6,359
From Sirculians: 222
From Etruscans: 542
From Greeks: 6,111

Answer:

Severed penises.

As explained by Diane Ackerman in A Natural History of Love:

Overwhelming an enemy is not enough. Bloodthirsty warriors want to murder unborn generations, making sure that only their own genes will survive. Perhaps the most obvious example of this was in 1300 bc. A monument at Karnak, Egypt, chronicles King Menephta's revenge on the Libyan army, which he vanquished. It lists the severed penises that his army brought home: Phalluses of Libyan generals—6. Phalluses cut off Libyans—6,359. Sirculians killed, phalluses cut off—222. Etruscans killed, phalluses cut off—542. Greeks killed, phalluses presented to the king—6,111.

(Thanks to Jenny Beatty for this list!)

Who We Are
Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Sun Mar 31, 2019
Category: Name That List

Comments

I thought it was the provenance of items found when they cleaned out the taxicabs in Rome.

Posted by Virtual on 03/31/19 at 10:45 AM

So Pharaoh personally wanted to eyeball those Greek phalluses, did he?

And what are Sirculians? Does she mean Sicilians?

Posted by Dr. Fian on 03/31/19 at 12:36 PM

I thought it was artifacts found at various digs.

agent j

Posted by agent j on 03/31/19 at 07:10 PM

Good catch, Dr. Flan. Every mention of Sirculians I find on the web is a reference to this alleged incident. Wasn't Karnak Johnny Carson as a fortune teller?

Posted by ges on 03/31/19 at 10:53 PM

Commenting is not available in this channel entry.