Introduction: The codpiece, from the slang “cod” for scrotum, sprang into fashion in the 1500s and continues to be represented in art today. We chose to investigate its origins, focusing on its function and representation in the arts through today. Methods: A review of primary and secondary sources was performed, focusing on function, and historical and cultural relevance. Results: In the 1400s, male attire included a long shirt to cover the upper body, separate hosiery on each leg, and a coat or cape over both. As the shirts shortened, the genitals became increasingly exposed. In 1463, English law mandated they be covered. The earliest codpieces were a triangle of cloth attached to each hose and doublet, but soon that gave way to more padded, formed cloth. They grew into a figurative extension of the man’s outward virility; no longer limited to the “cod,” they eventually assumed the form of an erect phallus. In addition to its function of “modesty,” the more voluminous codpieces sometimes served as a pocket. They also protected the phallus from objects dangling from the wearer’s belt, while metal codpieces were paired with armor for the battlefield. Codpieces also performed a medical function. Medical therapy for syphilis, rampant in the late 1400s, was limited to topical applications. The phallus, wrapped in bandages, was covered by a codpiece, holding the treatment in place and protecting outerwear. Similar garments containing secretions associated with sexually transmitted infections persisted into the 1900s, with gonorrhea aprons. Detachable codpieces are still used today in some jock straps. In art, few codpieces are as recognizable as King Henry VIII’s. Legend has it, there was a wooden statue of the king featuring a mechanized swinging codpiece, while women stuck pins in his codpiece to promote fertility. The codpiece’s artistic reach extended far beyond England, popping up in famous Renaissance works around Europe. Not limited to the visual arts, there are numerous references in in plays, poetry, and other manuscripts. Western fascination with the codpiece has not entirely withered. It now has secured a place in superhero lore; Superman famously sports a codpiece, while a DC Comics super villain named Codpiece fashions his garment into a large weapon. Recently, several high end ateliers have incorporated the codpiece into their offerings. Conclusions: The codpiece has firmly erected itself in Western culture, from the 15th century through today, serving not only to protect a man’s modesty and manhood, but also to entertain through the visual arts, literature, motion pictures, and couture. SOURCE OF Funding: None
