It’s a day like any other, a man or woman sits down to their computer to check their email only to find that their inbox has been flooded with advertisements with titles such as “Three fast ways to make your penis bigger!” Modern society lives by the standard that the size of a man’s penis dictates what rung of the figurative ladder of sexuality he sits on. Though penis enlargement has become a staple of today’s world, the idea of men having bigger penises has a rich history in all cultures, dating farther back than history itself

The Cave Days

Archaeologists spend their lifetime searching for new clues about how prehistoric people lived and what their culture was all about. Imagine their surprise when they discovered cave paintings that revealed an idea that they thought was a modern way of thinking; bigger is better.

Many of the paintings discovered depicted men of power, presumed royalty. All of these powerful men had one thing in common, they were well endowed. Further research has revealed that even in the very early ages of the world, the need to achieve a certain penis size was important in cultures stretching the globe. In fact, some of the oldest forms of prehistoric art are stone phalluses or statues and hieroglyphs proving that the size of a man’s penis helped him achieve a higher level of power within his culture.

Asian Roots

The Chinese have long been known as the leaders in herbal remedies; it seems they have a plant for every ailment. So it should come as no surprise that some of the most common theories in penis enlargement found in the Asian culture have to do with various mixes of herbs. As an alternative to more drastic methods, Chinese herbal doctors began using herbs, such as ginseng or yohimbe, as a way to enlarge the male anatomy. As with most herbal remedies, the results varied greatly from person to person causing some Asian men to seek out an alternative. These men became so desperate that they began to feast upon the penises and testicles of various animals. This rather odd method also turned up unproductive results and many people reverted back to herbal methods or surgical procedures.

Arabian Nights

The importance of a man’s penis has been so important in Arabic culture from the beginning that Arabian men are taught a method, known as jelquing, as soon as they turn thirteen as a means of passage from boyhood into manhood. Though it is not confirmed that jelquing originated in Middle Eastern society, the Arabic word, jelq, is translated to mean milking. The act of jelquing involves massaging the penis at a semi erect state. As the erection grows, the action must cease in order to allow the organ to become flaccid again before proceeding.

Oh those Africans

Everyone has heard the rumors about Africans and their abnormally large penises. The fact is, those from African cultures have worked effortlessly over the years to ensure that their male anatomy is as big as it can get. History shows that around 2000 years ago, members of African tribes began the method of hanging weights from their genitals to obtain a desired size. Though this method proved to reduce girth and even cause damage, many African tribes still practice this exercise today.

Members of the Shangaan tribe, in southern Mozambique, are so enamored with the relevance of a large penis that they begin ensuring their sons success immediately after birth. Tradition states that when a male child is born to the tribe, a tree is to be planted in the yard of his home. Once the child reaches the age that he can ingest sold foods, root bark from the tree is mixed with his dinner. Now that the boy and tree are one, in a sense, as the tree grows, so will the boys penis. Once the child’s parents are satisfied with the achieved growth, the tree is chopped down and the penis ceases to grow. The Shangaan still practice this method today and insist on starting at very early age however, there is hope for those who missed out, the claim is that the root bark works well for grown men as well.

The Art of Injection

As if the idea of hanging things from one’s genitals or eating trees wasn’t strange enough, some cultures throughout history have developed theories that are straight out of a medical horror movie. In the 16th century, men from the Topinama tribe in Brazil would find a poisonous snake and manipulate it so that it would bite them directly on the penis, injecting its venom in their bodies, thus engorging their penis. Any modern man would think such and act was insane but the Topinama felt that the six months of excruciating pain they endured was well worth it when their mates just couldn’t get enough of them. In Borneo men would go to another extreme and inserted metal rods or bone in their penis in an effort to maintain a permanent erection. This practice later became popular in modern culture as men from all walks of life began piercing their privates thinking it would be an excellent way to impress women.

A Modern Take

As the world entered the 20th century, everything became industrialized. Penis enlargement simply followed suit. In the early 1900s mechanical jelqing devices were designed but did not last long as they were awkward and rather uncomfortable to use. A few years later a man from Austria, Otto Ledever, invented a device that has been replicated and improved many times; the penis pump. The main function of the penis pump is to create a vacuum that, when placed of over the organ, will cause the tissues around it to fill it blood, resulting in growth. The 20th century also saw advancements in surgical procedures. Doctors discovered ways to cut the tendons holding the organ in such a way that it would allow the penis to drop, increasing its length by up to an inch. The problem with surgery is it comes with a long list of complications and side effects and many man feel that it is not worth the risk to cosmetically alter their genitals just for the sake of their pride.

It’s no wonder men today are so obsessed with the size of their privates. Modern society as well as ancient cultures have placed a very high importance on this subject and made it clear that the size of one’s package is relevant to his placement in the hierarchy of his generation. It’s also no secret that his sexual partners have something to say about it as well.