Inside the world's only museum dedicated to the scientific study of the male organ.
In short: Located in Reykjavík, the Icelandic Phallological Museum houses over 300 specimens from more than 100 mammal species. Founded by a retired teacher in 1997, this unconventional collection ranges from microscopic hamster bones to massive whale parts, aiming to elevate phallology into an organized, serious field of scientific study.
The museum began as a personal hobby for Sigurður Hjartarson, a teacher who became fascinated with penises after receiving a bull's pizzle as a child. Following his retirement in 2004, he moved the collection to Húsavík before his son, Hjörtur Gísli Sigurðsson, relocated it to Reykjavík's main shopping street in 2012. The collection serves as a unique cultural barometer; anthropologist Sigurjón Baldur Hafsteinsson notes that the public's acceptance of the museum reflects Iceland's shift toward a more open, neoliberal society since the 1990s.
The exhibits are diverse, featuring everything from preserved animal organs to phallic art and folklore-inspired items. While the museum holds specimens from various mammals, it also includes 'imagined' penises from creatures like elves and trolls, which remain invisible to the naked eye. The museum’s most famous quest involved obtaining a human specimen. In 2011, it acquired its first human penis from a 95-year-old donor, though the preservation process resulted in a shriveled mass. Despite this, the museum continues to seek 'bigger and better' examples, including casts from figures like Jimi Hendrix and Matt Barr.
Operating as a serious scientific endeavor, the museum employs various preservation techniques, including formaldehyde, drying, and salting. It has become a significant tourist attraction, drawing over 70,000 visitors annually. While some find the subject matter humorous or embarrassing, the curators maintain a commitment to the academic study of phallology. The museum has rejected high-value offers to sell or relocate the collection abroad, insisting that its home must remain in Iceland to preserve its unique role in the nation's cultural landscape.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Icelandic Phallological Museum
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