Who Invented Blowjobs? A Cultural & Erotic History of Oral Sex Across Time

Ever wondered who first gave a blowjob or why we even call it that? You're not alone. Despite being one of the most talked-about (and practiced) acts in the sexual playbook, oral sex has a history that’s often whispered about, censored, or just plain misunderstood.

In this cultural deep dive, we’ll unravel the erotic evolution of the blowjob from ancient rituals and mythological tales to Victorian shame and modern pleasure tech. 

Along the way, we’ll explore shifting societal norms, the bizarre etymology of “blowjob,” and how this age-old act has been reimagined for every era.

Whether you’re here out of historical curiosity, linguistic fascination, or just love a good origin story, get ready for a sex-positive, no-judgment journey into the oral tradition that’s been blowing minds for millennia.

The Ancient Oral: Oral Sex in Early Civilizations

Oral sex may feel modern, but its roots run deep etched into mythology, rituals, and pleasure practices across the world’s earliest civilizations. In truth, the history of fellatio reveals that the first blow job probably predates written language.

Ancient Egypt: Divine Resurrection Through Oral Pleasure

One of the earliest recorded references to oral sex comes from the myth of Isis and Osiris. After Osiris was dismembered, Isis reassembled his body but couldn’t find his penis.

So she crafted a magical replacement and breathed life back into him through oral sex, symbolizing rebirth, power, and sacred union. This erotic act wasn’t taboo, it was divine.

Ancient Greece: A Celebration of Male Erotic Pleasure

In Ancient Greece, oral sex was woven into the fabric of symposia elite social and sexual gatherings. While gender roles were strict, male pleasure was celebrated, and fellatio was often performed by courtesans (hetaerae) or younger male companions.

It wasn't seen as dirty, it was just another avenue of art (excellence) in erotic life.

Ancient China & the Kama Sutra: Sensual Spirituality

In classical Chinese Taoist traditions and Indian Tantric texts like the Kama Sutra, oral sex was both a spiritual act and a sensual one. Known as “kou jiao” in Chinese or “auparishtaka” in Sanskrit, oral pleasure was encouraged as a way to build intimacy, circulate energy, and honor the body’s sacred zones far from the shame lens later imposed by Western morality.

According to The Journal of Sex Research, nearly every ancient society practiced some form of oral sex though the way it was recorded (or censored) depended on prevailing power structures and cultural values.

Who Really Invented the Blowjob? Myth vs Reality

Let’s get one thing straight: no one “invented” the blowjob. Like most acts of human intimacy, it evolved naturally across cultures, bodies, and time.

Trying to pin down when blowjobs were invented is like asking who first kissed or held hands. The act predates language, borders, and even modern ideas of sex.

There’s no clinical origin story for oral sex. Instead, it reflects our broader sexual evolution, a deeply human drive for closeness, stimulation, and connection. And while the act itself hasn’t changed much, how it’s perceived, described, and regulated absolutely has.

Different societies documented or censored oral sex based on power, gender, and religious influence. In patriarchal cultures, fellatio was often hidden or dismissed unless it centered male pleasure. 

Religious morality reframed it as shameful, while colonial narratives stripped indigenous cultures of their open erotic traditions.

• Cleopatra allegedly performed fellatio on hundreds of men (a fantasy rooted more in Orientalist fiction than fact).
• Greek hetaerae were famed for their “oral skills” and intellectual companionship.
• 1950s pin-up culture rebranded blowjobs as taboo thrill paving the way for modern porn’s obsession with the act.

Why Is It Called a “Blowjob”?

Let’s address the question that’s puzzled many:
Why is a blowjob called a blowjob when… well, there’s no actual blowing involved?

The term is as misleading as it is sticky. Etymologically, “blowjob” is a piece of 20th-century slang, believed to have emerged from American street culture around the 1930s. 

Some historians suggest it may be linked to the jazz-era phrase “blow your horn,” a euphemism that fused performance, sound, and sexuality.

By the mid-20th century, “blowjob” had found its way into underground erotic writing and, eventually, into the mainstream lexicon via pornographic films, pulp novels, and coded slang among soldiers and subcultures.

But in English? “Blowjob” became the dominant term because it was punchy, provocative, and rebellious everything the post-war sexual revolution embodied.

The Shifting Morality of Oral Sex Through the Ages

The history of blowjobs is also a history of moral whiplash. From sacred ritual to sinful taboo, society’s view of oral sex has swung wildly depending on the era and who held the power.

Medieval & Victorian Eras: Sin and Suppression

In Europe, the rise of organized religion cast oral sex into the shadows. Acts not directly linked to reproduction, especially ones involving the mouth were branded as “unnatural” or even criminal. 

The Victorian era took repression further: public modesty was prized, and any discussion of sex, let alone who invented blowjobs, was scandalous. In many places, oral sex was punishable by law.

WWII & 1950s America: Conservative Clampdown

The post-war boom brought with it a rigid ideal of morality. American conservatism painted oral sex as dirty or degrading. Women were expected to be passive; men, restrained. While some quietly engaged in oral pleasure, few dared speak about it. The shame was deeply internalized especially for women and LGBTQ+ people.

1960s–70s: The Sexual Revolution Breaks the Silence

Everything changed in the 1960s. Birth control, feminist movements, and LGBTQ+ activism began to reclaim oral sex as valid, pleasurable, and powerful. Erotic literature, films, and public discourse finally gave oral sex a platform that wasn’t cloaked in shame.

Modern Day: From Taboo to Trending

Today, blowjobs are so normalized they show up in romantic comedies, music lyrics, and memes. Sex-positive culture celebrates mutual pleasure, and oral sex is seen as a normal part of sexual exploration not something to be hidden.

Therapists & Educators: Reframing the Narrative

Modern sex therapy and consent-based education emphasize that oral sex is a choice not a duty. Whether part of queer intimacy, solo exploration, or partnered play, it’s framed around communication, comfort, and respect.

6 Things You Need To Know About the History of Blowjobs

• They’re Ancient AF: Oral sex has been depicted in Egyptian tombs, Greek pottery, and Indian texts long before the word “blowjob” existed.
• Isis Gave the First One (Sort Of): In Egyptian mythology, Isis resurrected Osiris by performing oral sex on his magically reconstructed penis. Divine, right?
• Nobody Really Invented It: There’s no single origin story. Blowjobs evolved organically across cultures, just like kissing or cuddling.
• The Term “Blowjob” Is Misleading: It originated in 1930s American slang, possibly tied to jazz culture but it’s definitely not about blowing.
• Victorians Thought It Was a Crime.
  In some parts of the 1800s West, oral sex was literally illegal even between married couples.
• Modern Tech Is Recreating the Experience: Tools like the Thrusting Male Masturbator are designed to simulate the sensations of oral sex with suction, stroking, and rhythm settings that bring solo play to a whole new level.

Oral Pleasure Across Cultures: What the World Says

Oral sex isn’t just biologically universal, it's culturally revealing. How societies talk about, regulate, or celebrate it says a lot about their values around intimacy, gender, and power. While some cultures historically embraced oral pleasure, others have treated it with silence or stigma.

Japan: Erotic Play as Art and Ritual

In Japanese sexual culture, aibu refers to foreplay and caressing, often including oral pleasure. While modern Japan can seem conservative, its erotic art tells a different story. 

Shunga 18th-century erotic woodblock prints frequently depict mutual oral sex with playful, romantic detail. Today, oral themes are mainstream in erotic manga and anime, reflecting a deep intertwining of fantasy and pleasure.

India: Kama Sutra and Sacred Oral Play

India’s ancient Kama Sutra includes full chapters on oral sex techniques, positioning it as a sacred and sensual act. 

Known as auparishtaka, oral pleasure was encouraged as part of building deep emotional and spiritual connection between lovers. Despite modern social conservatism, these historical texts show that oral sex was once seen as enlightened, not shameful.

Middle East: Private Practice, Public Silence

Across many Middle Eastern societies, oral sex exists but isn’t always openly acknowledged. Religious law and cultural customs often label it taboo or legally restricted, especially in same-sex contexts.

Yet beneath the surface, studies and personal accounts reveal that oral pleasure is quietly practiced and desired, highlighting a tension between tradition and lived experience.

Queer Expression: Foundational and Validating

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, blowjobs are not just pleasure, they're identity-affirming. 

In queer male culture especially, oral sex has long been a cornerstone of intimacy. For trans and non-binary people, it can offer an affirming way to connect outside of heteronormative scripts.

Despite societal stigma, queer communities have helped destigmatize oral sex and reclaim it as an expression of love, joy, and selfhood.

From Ancient Acts to Modern Toys: Evolution of Oral Play

We’ve come a long way from ancient myths and whispered foreplay. Today's pleasure tech brings the sensation of a blowjob straight into your hands. Literally.

Modern sex toys are designed to mimic the rhythms, suction, and depth of oral stimulation, especially for those seeking a solo experience that feels anything but solo. 

Innovations in motors, sleeve textures, and pressure feedback have created an entirely new category: male masturbators that simulate the intensity of oral sex.

Take the Thrusting Male Masturbator, for example. It combines deep rhythmic thrusting with multi-speed settings to replicate the momentum and tightness of a real blowjob. Its textured interior sleeve grips and strokes in a way that many users describe as “eerily lifelike.”

• Remove performance pressure for partnered sex
• Offer erotic exploration without judgment
• Help men understand their arousal patterns and preferences
• Support long-distance play when paired with interactive apps

Oral Sex Is Ancient, Personal, and Evolving

So who invented blowjobs? No one did. And everyone did.

Oral sex isn’t a modern kink or a cultural trend, it's a timeless expression of human desire. From resurrection myths in ancient Egypt to the rise of high-tech toys like the Pleasure Male Masturbator, the act has evolved alongside society’s understanding of pleasure, intimacy, and freedom.

At its core, oral pleasure is about trust, communication, and connection. Whether you explore it with a partner or through solo play, what matters most is consent, curiosity, and comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is oral sex normal across all cultures?

Yes though it's talked about differently, oral sex exists in nearly every society across history. What changes is how it's framed: sacred, sinful, secret, or celebrated.

Does the term “blowjob” have anything to do with actual blowing?

Nope! It’s misleading slang. “Blowjob” likely came from 1930s American slang like “blow your horn,” but involves suction not blowing.

Are there safe ways to simulate a blowjob solo?

Absolutely. Devices like the Thrusting Masturbator recreate the rhythm and intensity of oral play, offering safe and satisfying solo options.

How do I talk to my partner about oral sex?

Start with curiosity, not pressure. Use “I” statements, ask what they’re comfortable with, and respect all boundaries. Consent is sexy.