In the Orphic mythological tradition, Baubo was the spouse of Dysaules and welcomed Demeter when the latter was searching for her lost daughter. The goddess was troubled and sad, so she refused to drink the kykeon offered to her by her hostess. Baubo, then, attempted to alleviate her misery by making her laugh. The method she chose was to lift her skirt and display her genitals with Iacchus, who was a laughing baby and kept his hand under Baubo’s breast. Another version insists that Baubo revealed her depilated genitals and agitated them with her hand to make them resemble a child. The ancient sources fail to clarify why Demeter found the gesture funny, but they all agree that she laughed. Perhaps it was because of the gesture’s shock value. Perhaps Baubo was known for her skill with mortal male sexual clients, and Demeter was amused at the inappropriateness of her host’s behaviour.

Baubo, 3rd c. BCE to 2nd c. CE, sculpture, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg © Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg

Baubo sitting on pig, 1st century BCE, sculpture, Berlin State Museums (SMB) © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung / CC BY-SA 4.0

Baubo, 4th - 2nd century BCE, sculpture, Berlin State Museums (SMB) © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung / CC BY-SA 4.0

Male figure (Heracles?) with Baubo, 2nd c. BCE - 1st c. CE, sculpture, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg © Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg