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All Slovakia Bratislava Posmievačik
AO Edited

Posmievačik

No one knows the origin of this creepy little stone man with an oversized phallus.

Bratislava, Slovakia

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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Posmievačik peeking from his alcove.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Posmievačik peeking from his alcove.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Spot the little guy!   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A closer look.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
The peeping “mockingjay” of Bratislava.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
  Runawaydc / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Hidden in plain sight in Bratislava's Old Town is a stone statuette of a man leering at the people walking the quaint street of Panská. Above the façade of a neon-signed ice cream shop, the creepy little man—known in Slovak as Posmievačik, meaning "mockingjay" or "sneerer"—has an oversized phallus, big enough for him to appear to be sitting on it.

There have been many stories speculating on the unusual effigy’s origin, which is believed to date back to the Middle Ages. In one story, the statuette was created in order to poke fun at the former owner of the building, who would spy on the passers-by below from his bay window. Another tale relates a drunkard's unsuccessful courting of his neighbor's wife. The statuette was apparently made to ridicule his inappropriate behavior, and eventually caused the man to sink into alcohol and flee the city out of shame.

Other stories claim the little stone man belonged to the mayor's house, or that it was erected to win a love triangle. No one seems to know the true background of Posmievačik, and few locals even know of its existence.

Related Tags

Medieval Phallic Statues

Know Before You Go

The statuette is on the south side of Panská, just west of Strakova.

Community Contributors

Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Edited By

roxs66, Runawaydc

  • roxs66
  • Runawaydc

Published

August 9, 2022

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Posmievačik
257/29 Panská
Bratislava, 811 01
Slovakia
48.141772, 17.106228
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