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Why do really, really old (like medieval, renaissance, etc. time period) pictures/sculptures show that the men had really small penises, even though they were adults? (Possibly-NSFW)

Mark Sterling
Mark Sterling
Research Editor · Mar 22, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

They were copying the style of Classical Greek sculptors. The Greeks considered large genitals to be unsightly, and so they tended to sculpt small ones.

25
Words

1 min
Read Time

#454
of 500 in History

-65%
vs Category Avg

The Short Answer

They were copying the style of Classical Greek sculptors. The Greeks considered large genitals to be unsightly, and so they tended to sculpt small ones.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Copying, style, classical

This explanation focuses on copying, style, classical and spans 25 words across 2 sentences. At 65% below the average History explanation (72 words), the answer takes a direct, no-frills approach — sometimes the simplest explanation is the most effective.

What This Answer Covers

This is a focused, single-point answer that gets directly to the core of the question without detours.

How This Compares in History

Ranked #454 of 500 History questions by answer depth (top 92%). This is a brief primer — the answer is intentionally short. For questions with a single core mechanism, brevity can actually be a strength.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why really, really old (like medieval, renaissance, etc. time period) pictures/sculptures show that the men had really small penises, even though they were adults? (possibly-nsfw)?

They were copying the style of Classical Greek sculptors. The Greeks considered large genitals to be unsightly, and so they tended to sculpt small ones.

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar History questions?

This is a brief answer at 25 words, ranked #454 of 500 History questions by depth. The key concepts covered are copying, style, classical.

What approach does this answer take to explain really, really old (like medieval, renaissance, etc. time pe?

The explanation uses direct explanation across 25 words. It is categorized under History and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.