Aristoteles und Phyllis

Pilgrim's badge with Aristotle and Phyllis.

Here you can buy a medieval pilgrim's sign that can be pinned on or worn as a pendant around the neck.

This model is based on a medieval pilgrimage sign from the late Middle Ages, which tells the story of Aristotle and Phyllis, which was very common in the late Middle Ages and was used for amusement.

The pilgrim sign beautifully depicts Phyllis riding the philosopher Aristotle, brandishing a whip as he rides her through the garden, his unrequited desire indicated by his powerful, erect member.

The historical model for this pilgrim's sign comes from the Netherlands and belongs to the category of erotic badges that were widespread there in the Middle Ages.

On the back, as on the original pilgrim's signs of the Middle Ages, there is a flat spike that rests in a detent and can thus be securely and reliably attached to clothing. In addition, there is also a small eyelet on the back so that the pilgrim's sign can also be worn as a pendant around the neck if required.

The Aristotle and Phyllis sign measures 4 x 3.8 cm.
A black leather strap in 1 m length is included.

You can buy the medieval badge made of high-quality bronze or real silver-plated.

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In the medieval story of Aristotle and Phyllis, the motif of the wise man who is seduced, outwitted and exposed by a beautiful woman is shown.

The powerful Macedonian king Philip appoints the wise philosopher Aristotle to teach his son Alexander, but he falls so in love with the beautiful Phyllis that he can no longer concentrate on his lessons. Aristotle then enforces that the lovers be separated, as he himself has feelings for Phyllis.

Phyllis feels that her love has been stolen from her and wants to take revenge on Aristotle for this. When Aristotle asks her to spend the night with him in exchange for money, Phyllis ostensibly agrees to his request, but demands that Aristotle carry her through the garden as if on a horse.

Phyllis straps a saddle on him and, singing a love song, rides on his back through the garden, which some ladies of the court and the queen happen to notice. Aristotle is thus exposed to ridicule and disgrace and flees to a distant land where he meditates on the perniciousness of womanising.

The motif of the wise man being shown up and humiliated by the superior woman has been known in world literature since the 5th century and is also found in Chinese, Arabic and Persian tales of the time. The story probably came to Europe during the Crusade period and was quite widespread there from the 13th to the 16th century.

In addition to literary works, this motif was also strongly prevalent in pictorial representations of the late Middle Ages and was often thematised on objects of everyday court life, such as knife handles, combs or sculptures as well as facade reliefs in churches and cathedrals.