Pornography was not invented by a single person; it has evolved over thousands of years alongside human culture. The earliest known examples of sexually explicit imagery date back to prehistoric times, around 25,000 to 35,000 years ago, with stone and wooden statues depicting exaggerated sexual features and sexual acts.
Throughout history, various cultures such as the Greeks and Romans produced erotic art openly reflecting sexual themes. The term "pornography" comes from the Greek language, with modern usage beginning in the 19th century. Notably, the Italian engraver Marcantonio Raimondi, who created erotic engravings in 1524, is considered one of the first to produce what might be termed modern pornography. The French Revolution further developed pornographic material as a form of political and social commentary.
In the modern era, the invention of photography and film led to the creation of pornographic images and movies, with some of the earliest pornographic films appearing in the late 19th century. Hugh Hefner, who launched Playboy magazine in 1953, helped popularize pornographic imagery in print form, and the internet later revolutionized accessibility to pornography.
In summary, pornography was not invented by one individual but emerged gradually through cultural, artistic, and technological developments over millennia.
