The ancient Roman's lubricated their dildos with olive oil. In fact, oil and grease such as Vaseline and Crisco were used as common sex lubricants up until the 1970s. Even with the advent of KY, invented for use by physicians in women's pelvic exams, in 1927, glycerin, or water based lubes were not marketed for sexual use until 1980. And this was mainly due to the AIDS crisis, because only water based lubricants were condom compatible, and condoms help prevent the transmission of STDs.