Kynodesme
Encyclopedia
A kynodesme was a thin leather
strip worn by some athletes in Ancient Greece
to restrain the penis
such as to prevent the exposure of the glans. It was tied tightly around the akroposthion, the part of the foreskin
that extended beyond the glans
. The kynodesme could then either be attached to a waist band to expose the scrotum
, or tied to the base of the penis so that the penis appeared to curl upwards.
It is first alluded to in literature in the 5th century BC, in the partially preserved satyr play Theoroi by Aeschylus
. There is earlier evidence from the images of athletes on Ancient Greek pottery.
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
strip worn by some athletes in Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
to restrain the penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
such as to prevent the exposure of the glans. It was tied tightly around the akroposthion, the part of the foreskin
Foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin is a generally retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect...
that extended beyond the glans
Glans penis
The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans penis is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the female...
. The kynodesme could then either be attached to a waist band to expose the scrotum
Scrotum
In some male mammals the scrotum is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles and divided by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with curly...
, or tied to the base of the penis so that the penis appeared to curl upwards.
It is first alluded to in literature in the 5th century BC, in the partially preserved satyr play Theoroi by Aeschylus
Aeschylus
Aeschylus was the first of the three ancient Greek tragedians whose work has survived, the others being Sophocles and Euripides, and is often described as the father of tragedy. His name derives from the Greek word aiskhos , meaning "shame"...
. There is earlier evidence from the images of athletes on Ancient Greek pottery.