About Elephantis
Elephantis was a poet and writer.
Elephantis (fl. late 1st century BC) was a Greek poet and physician renowned in the classical world as the author of a notorious sex manual. Due to the popularity of courtesans taking animal names in classical times, it is likely Elephantis is two or more persons of the same name.
One of the poems in the Priapeia refers to her books:
("Lalage dedicates a votive offering to the God of the erect penis, bringing shameless pictures from the books of Elephantis, and begs him to try and imitate with her the variety of intercourse of the figures in the illustrations.")
And an epigram by the Roman poet Martial, which Smithers and Burton included in their collection of poems concerning Priapus, reads:
("Such verses as neither the daughters of Didymus know, nor the debauched books of Elephantis, in which are set out new forms of lovemaking.")
Pliny the Elder references her performance as a midwife, and Galen notes her ability to cure baldness.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Elephantis?
Greek poet and physician
When was Elephantis born?
Elephantis was born in Ancient Greece.
What was Elephantis's occupation?
Elephantis was a poet and writer.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Elephantis. https://biography.guide/elephantis/
MLA: "Elephantis." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/elephantis/.
Chicago: "Elephantis." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/elephantis/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.
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