By Benji Koorvah

    Dildos, though generally treated  as a shameful subject in our culture, have been used ever since humans began making tools. Paleolithic artifacts have been found which many scientists believe are dildos, although the trend has been to label them obtusely as “batons.” It's unlikely that prehistoric baton-twirlers danced at the head of Stone Age marching bands or that prehistoric men conducted Ice Age symphony orchestras – but it's highly likely that they did use dildos. The oldest marital aid yet discovered is 30,000 years old and was made of silstone. It was found in Hohle Fels Cave near Ulm, Germany. Evidence has shown that dildos were also used in Ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. In fact, Greek words such as “olisbos” and “godemiche” refer to specific types of dildos. Chinese women of the 15th century used dildos made of lacquered wood and by the 19th century we even start seeing references to double-headed dongs.
    Modern dildos of the 1940s were made first of rubber and then PVC and jelly rubber, but the latter two materials couldn't be sterilized and could cause allergies and ill health effects. In the 1990s, silicone sparked a dildo revolution that eventually lowered prices, improved designs, and eliminated the unpleasant odor of PVC. Silicone was ideal for dildos because it retained body heat and could easily be sterilized. It won't dry or crack and is still one of the most popular materials. Silicone can even transmit vibrations – so many silicone dildos include a small cavity at the base where a bullet-shaped vibrator can be inserted. A few of the most popular and affordable silicone models are the Raging Hard-on Double Dong, the Bandito, and the Magnum Dildo.
    Although silicone dildos work well, new materials have been developed that can more realistically simulate the look and feel of human flesh. Cyberskin was one of the first new materials to emerge – but it was porous, couldn't be sterilized, tore easily, and could feel sticky after use. SensaFirm, a much more practical material, has now become especially popular for porn-star molded dildos such as the Johnny Hazzard SensaFirmCock. SensaFirm dildos are unique because they combine an inner core that's hard and solid with an outer shell that's pliable and soft – much like real human tissue.
    Recently more imaginative materials such as metal, glass, and stone have been used to create dildos. High-end metal dildos have a nice heft, look beautiful, resist corrosion, and can be heated and chilled. Since they're non-porous, lubrication lasts longer – and because they conduct electricity, they're perfect for electro-play. Metal designs are usually sleek and can be easily sterilized. If you want that personal touch, you can even have them engraved! Stand out metal dildos include the Fun Wand Stainless Steel, the Stainless Steel njoy ELEVEN and the Stainless Steel Butt Plug.
    Even more popular than metal dildos are the models made of glass using specialized materials such as Pyrex, eGlass, or Phallix Glass. Glass dildos share most of the characteristics of metal, but they can also be translucent and can incorporate intricate, colorful designs. They can be cast into beautiful, unusual shapes designed either to stimulate certain areas or simply to look beautiful. A few nice examples of the many innovative glass dildos available are the Glass Blown Graduate, the Phallix Glass Twist, and the Phallix Bi-Directional.
    For a serious dildo purchase, you'll want to consider material, intended use, and looks. The appearance might be less important – but with so many options, why not choose one that you find aesthetically pleasing? The better dildos made of metal, glass, and even stone can be pricey, but it's an investment that will serve you well for a long time. Since they can often cost hundreds of dollars and can't be returned once opened, it's important to consider the dimensions, too. It can be very easy to overbuy, but a dildo that's too large is a waste of money because it will never be used.
    Besides the high quality models, the majority of dildos available are either throwaway products or novelty items. The cheap models can be a great way to experiment inexpensively – and the novelty models often do very unique things. For instance, there are ejaculating dildos such as the Realistic Squirting Cock and the Squirty Peter Dinger Dong.
    Why do we need so many dildos? The answer is simple: supply and demand. If a huge number of people weren't buying them, there wouldn't be so many options. If you feel a little embarrassed about buying a dildo or having someone find out that you own one, this should encourage you. In reality, a dildo is just a simple, cylindrical object. What's so embarrassing about that? Having another person insert their penis into one's butt or vagina should strike us as much more scandalous. If the phallic designs are the reason they seem sleazy to you, there are actually many abstract and even beautiful dildos available such as the Love Prism and the Candy Cane.
    Most of the dildos cited in this article came from four of my favorite online toy stores. Together they offer hundreds of options, so check them all out. There's Male Stockroom, C1R's Toy Store, Boyz Shop, and the Eros Boutique.

Contact Benji Koorvah at freelance@cybersocket.com

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