As I was driving west on Laugavegur in Reykjavik, I noticed a sign for The Icelandic Phallological Museum on the left. Wait a minute, I thought to myself. Is this actually a museum displaying…penises?!?
A Penis Museum in Iceland? No Thanks
I parked the car and walked up to the building; and sure enough, that is exactly what it is: Hjörtur Gísli Sigurðsson — who is the current curator of The Icelandic Phallological Museum, which opened in August of 1997 — is the son of its founder. The museum prides itself on being “probably the only museum in the world to contain a collection of phallic specimens belonging to all the various types of mammal found in a single country” with a collection of greater than 200 “penises and penile parts belonging to almost all the land and sea mammals that can be found in Iceland” — including Homo sapiens and 45 other different kinds of mammals.
Visitors can not only view a collection of approximately “350 artistic oddments and practical utensils” which are related to the theme of the museum; but exhibits include:
- 55 specimens belonging to 16 different kinds of whales
- One specimen taken from a “rogue” polar bear
- 36 specimens belonging to seven different kinds of seals and walruses
- Greater than 115 specimens originating from 20 different kinds of land mammals
Summary
I have no interest in the ancient science of phallology — which is the study of penises — and I have no doubt that phallology has an important place in biology and other academic disciplines; but I would not enter the museum if admission was free of charge…
…which it is not: adults must pay 1,500 Icelandic krona to enter the museum; while people who are considered disabled enjoy a reduced admission of 1,000 Icelandic krona. Children younger than 13 years of age do not have to pay to enter; but they must be with their parents or guardians.
At the time this article was written, 1,500 Icelandic krona converts to approximately United States $14.20 — but if you want to visit the museum for yourself, here is the information:
The Icelandic Phallological Museum
Laugavegur 116
105 Reykjavik
Iceland
Telephone: 561 6663
The museum is open every day from 9:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening during the months of June, July and August; and from 10:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening throughout the remainder of the year…
…and yes, you can purchase souvenirs and other items at the gift shop inside of the museum building.
All photographs ©2018 by Brian Cohen.
