Italy’s Premier Silvio Berlusconi ordered controversial repairs to a 2nd century AD marble statue at his Rome office, which included adding a new penis. Critics say the repairs, which cost Italian taxpayers 70,000 euros, amount to “aesthetic surgery” and “alter the authenticity of the work”.
Restorers replaced the long-lost penis of ancient Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who is portrayed in the priceless statue as the god of war, Mars, and gave him a new right hand.
Restorers also replaced the missing right hand and nose of the emperor’s wife Faustina the Younger, who is portrayed as Venus, the goddess of love.
The statue has been placed against a kitsch blue backdrop at the request of the architect who oversaw the work, Mario Catalano, according to Italian daily La Repubblica.
Mr Catalano hit back at criticism that he had ignored traditional restoration techniques.
The statue’s restoration was fully authorised and body parts were “removable”, he said.
The costly repairs were carried out as the government planned to cut Italy’s culture budget for 2011 by 46 per cent, La Repubblica noted.
Opposition centre-left Democratic Party MP Manuela Ghizzoni described the restoration of the 175 AD statue as “aesthetic surgery”.
“This is real aesthetic surgery carried out at the Prime Minister’s personal whim,” Ms Ghizzoni stated.
By arrangement with AKI