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Icelandic Phallological Museum (Reykjavik)

Florian Buechting Museums & Exhibitions No Comments

Icelandic Phallological Museum

2,500 ISK
Icelandic Phallological Museum
4.4

Rating

 4.4/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Quite scientific place
  • Wide range of exhibits
  • Central location
  • Nice cafe

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Deviates from its original approach towards the end of the exhibition

Half of us got one – and most of them love it/him. The philosopher Nietzsche even defined a penis envy. So – if Mr Happy is influencing our lives so significantly, why don’t we have a place of education and worship for this guy? Thanks God that there are Icelandic people on this planet – they just drive this place in the heart of their capital. If you are confused by the medical term: the Icelandic Phallological Museum is about male genitals, penises.. Whatever you want to call it. And, in fact, they are doing a pretty good job. Here is my review of this very special place.

 

 

Icelandic Phallological Museum – Location & Admission

The museum is located right in the heart of Reykjavik at the Kalkofnsvegur 2. It is located in the basement of a building which features a lot of rather posh shopping opportunities. There is a parking garage in close proximity. The closest option if you go for the bus is Arnarholl / Laekjartorg, which is also just a few steps away from the entrance to the museum.

The museum is opening daily, from 10:00 to 19:00 hrs. The adult admission is 2,500 ISK, which is about 17 Euro.

 

Icelandic Phallological Museum – The Museum

After a very first display about the founder of the museum and the cultural impact of phalluses, the first – and by far major part of the exhibition displays the vast variety of penises. The place thereby really comes in the style of a scientific museum. You get a lot of information about the majority of animal genitals displayed in there, including how the size of it compares to the size of the body. Alternatively, you also learn about the fact that some animals feature a penis bone. What is also very helpful is that at least key exhibits come with the translation of the name of the animal in multiple languages (see second picture). The museum’s key language is English.

A very interesting display is a very different view on the Iceland Handball National Team – don’t compare them to deer and similar animals, though – they are the first set of animals and their intimacies, which are on display. The museum really offers a massive range of exhibits, so that you quickly run into horses on the “major side of animal life”, but also into a vast collection of rodent penises, which naturally need less exhibition space.

 

Icelandic Mammals – Water and Land

Iceland is a water and ocean life country – so water animals just have to play a major role in the Icelandic Phallological Museum. After having a detailed view on seals, sea lions and similar animals, whales are also a major part of the exhibition. Later, you also look into smaller land mammals like foxes or badgers. There is also an elephant genital in display.

Penises in Culture

Last, but not least, the museum goes back to the cultural influence of the male genitals. There are sculptures and carvings, but also for example comic books like the Elmo one you see below. You also have some rather historic documents in display. A bit of odd to me is the collection of dongs by chimeras. For example, you can see a troll penis – which I feel is somehow entertaining, but also decreases the scientific, neutral approach of the museum so far.

Around the cafe (see below), there are also some displays with penis figures. Again, I would say that these are rather joke items. Your total visiting time is between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on how detailed you analyse the anatomy of the exhibits.

 

Icelandic Phallological Museum – Cafe & Shop

The museum drives a small cafe, which was quite popular during my visit. The counter of the cafe also serves as the ticket sale of the museum.

Of course, there is also a souvenir store. I somehow liked their t-shirt collection. Some items were quite nice – but then, there was also stuff like large plush penises. Funny stuff, but you again also move away from in fact majorly being a quite scientific museum.

 

Icelandic Phallological Museum – My View

The Icelandic Phallological Museum is in fact really a good, scientific place, which might have a weird focus, but is really educating. I really enjoyed visiting it. Bad luck that it somehow spoils the really good approach towards the end of the visit. Overall, if you visit this place, you learn something, you have fun and you create some memorable moments – so I would go for it and visit this place.

 

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