Scholars Debate Explicit Imagery on Bayeux Tapestry

A debate among medieval scholars has intensified over the number of penises depicted in the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, which portrays the Norman Conquest of England. Oxford historian Professor George Garnett previously counted 93, with five on men and 88 on horses, but Dr. Christopher Monk claims to have found a 94th on a running man in the tapestry's border—a detail Garnett maintains is a scabbard, not genitalia. The disagreement, featured on the HistoryExtra podcast, centers on whether this ambiguous appendage is a weapon or anatomically accurate male genitalia, as Monk contends. Scholars now also discuss whether the tapestry's explicit imagery reflects medieval humor, artistic intent, or social commentary. Both historians agree the debate sheds light on medieval mindsets and the tapestry's complex storytelling. The Bayeux Tapestry continues to intrigue scholars and the public nearly a millennium after its creation.