World’s oldest erotic graffiti found on the Greek island of Astypalaia

It was 2014 when prehistoric archaeologist Dr. Andreas Vlachopoulos discovered the world’s oldest erotic graffiti.

Dr. Andreas Vlachopoulos made his discovery on the island of Astypalaia, the farthest island of the Dodecanese.

Dating from the early 6th and late 5th centuries BC, one of the inscriptions depicts two phalluses carved into the flat surface of a rock in the Vathy region. Archaeologists also found the name “DION” (ΔΙΩΝ) carved into the side of the same rock.

There was another inscription found 52 meters above sea level. “Nikasitimos was riding Timiona here” (Νικασίτιμος οἶφε Τιμίονα), the inscription noted.

“They were what I would call triumphant inscriptions,” Vlachopoulos said.

The graffiti is written in a style of writing called “rustic”, first developed in the 8th century BC and common in the 6th and 5th centuries BC.

The graffiti, which expresses the erotic passion of two ancient Greeks, is well preserved because it was carved into the limestone rock.