'Lewd rubbing' shuts Paris statue

BBC ^ | January 13, 2005

[robowombat]

'Lewd rubbing' shuts Paris statue

Anonymous writes "Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris has fenced off a famous tomb to prevent lewd acts being performed on a statue.

The effigy of 19th Century journalist known as Victor Noir has long been popular with women visitors.

This is partly due to his reputation as a romantic figure, and partly because of the effigy's design.

Officials concerned about damage to the icon's groin area have erected a fence around the grave, and a sign prohibiting indecent rubbing.

Noir - whose real name was Yvan Salman - was killed by Pierre Bonaparte, a great-nephew of the Emperor Napoleon, after bearing him a challenge to a duel.

According to the story, he was due to get married the day after he was killed.

The statue shows Noir in a frock coat and trousers lying flat on his back, with a distinct enlargement in the groin.

The effigy has been held as an aid to love or fertility.

It is said that a woman who kisses the lips of the prostrate statue and slips a flower into the upturned top hat will find a husband by the end of the year.

The new sign warns: "Any damage caused by graffiti or indecent rubbing will be prosecuted."

Posted on Thursday, January 13

[robowombat]

I couldn't make this up if I tried.

[Americanwolf]

That takes it! The French are just wierd.

[cripplecreek]

Statuary rape?

[ExcursionGuy84]

Indecent Rubbing...Hmmmmmmmm.

Like a stone statue is more Satisfying than an Honest, Kind & Caring Husband.

Absurdity, Thy Name is French Women.

[RexBeach]

Mon Dieu! Quel surprise! I cannot beeleeveh zat dis eez happeening en gay Paree!

Does Barney Frank know about this?

[linkinpunk]

"long been popular with women?... erected a fence"

Somebody has a sense of humor.

[marvlus]

Statuary rape?

Good one, lol!

[Aliska]

Yuck.

[Thrusher]

Statuary rape?

ROTFLMAO!!!

[ExcursionGuy84]

You need to switch off the "Desperate Houswives" there, Mate.

[toddlintown]

If they ever remove the statue for cleaning or restoration, I can step in.

[Blueflag]

The statue is prone and fully clothed. There are strange people in this world.

[Bosco]

Image of statue found here.

[cripplecreek]

Pee Pee Le Feel.

[boxerblues]

Like a stone statue is more Satisfying than an Honest, Kind & Caring Husband.

A stone statue is more Satisfying than an Honest, Kind & Caring Husband. French weasal for a husband

[linkinpunk]

[snarks_when_bored]

Did somebody mention lewd rubbing?

Just checking is all...

[Charles Martel]

Heh... ol' Victor does appear to have been "polished" a bit.

[My2Cents]

have erected a fence

Poor choice of words.

[ExcursionGuy84]

A stone statue is more Satisfying than an Honest, Kind & Caring Husband. French weasal for a husband

To quote Captain Jack Sparrow:

"Eunuchs--All of them."

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Polished, indeed!

[Feiny]

Here is a great idea for any guys who want some afterlife action.

[Chode]

well SOMEBODY has been polishing his sword...

[freedomson]

I see something like this for bubba. That way generations of democrats can 'kiss it' .

[Petronski]

Lewd rubbing in Paris PING

[dayglored]

> That takes it! The French are just wierd.

It ain't just the French.

When I was in school in Philadelphia, there was a Greek-style statue of a woman with a drape over one shoulder, with one breast exposed. There was a tradition among the young men that if one went up to the statue before a big date and (respectfully of course) rubbed the exposed breast, it would increase one's chances of "scoring" on the date.

Can't say as I tried that myself, but the tradition was fairly common knowledge, and one thing is for sure -- that exposed breast was the best-polished piece of brass anywhere in the city.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

From the title, I figured they meant a statue of Paris Hilton.

[cripplecreek]

"that exposed breast was the best-polished piece of brass anywhere in the city."


So lots of guys were getting a piece of brass?

[dayglored]

Oops. "brass" => "bronze"

[dayglored]

> So lots of guys were getting a piece of brass?

For most of us, that was -all- we were getting. ;-)

[Calvin Locke]

I remember watching something on a British museum(?). Visitors, at the time at least, would rub the cod piece on Henry VIII's suit of armor, for fertility too.

From my college days, the "official" kilogram cylinder of platinum-iridium has been losing mass too.

If a solid cylinder in STP in a secured room in France can't be stopped from losing stuff, what do they think will happen in a public area?

Just look at what French banks lost from accounts in the Oil-for-Food scandal.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Another artistic embellishment:

[wallcrawlr]

hahahahhahah...best of the day

[Bob]

Can't say as I tried that myself,...

Do you really mean "Can't" or perhaps "Won't"? :=)

[Calvin Locke]

I wonder what would happen if they substituted a statue of Peter Abelard?

[ExcursionGuy84]

For most of us, that was -all- we were getting. ;-)

And the Lord God said, "It is Not Good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him."

--Genesis 2:18

[MarineBrat]

>>Statuary rape?

OoooOOooooohhhh! That was good!

[Calvin Locke]

Which dem did a magazine bolster, well, did some photoshop work in that area? I forget? Gore or Kerry?

[Pagey]

I see something like this for bubba. That way generations of democrats can 'kiss it'.

You nailed it, this is inevitable.

[dayglored]

>> Can't say as I tried that myself,...

> Do you really mean "Can't" or perhaps "Won't"? :=)

Oh, I might have brushed some dust off it once or twice, strictly for tidiness' sake, of course... ;-)

It's hard to remember that far back (1970). It's all a blur...

[Sloth]

Which dem did a magazine bolster, well, did some photoshop work in that area? I forget? Gore or Kerry?

Gaaahhh... As someone already posted, it was Gore; that was bad enough, but merely imagining such an enhanced picture of Kerry makes my gorge rise.

[kalee]

He appears to be smiling. ;)

[leadpenny]

I need to read no further. :)

[MarineBrat]

If they ever remove the statue for cleaning or restoration, I can step in.

DARN the luck!

[leadpenny]

Oh, but I did, and look what I find. Please stop!

[finnman69]

Take a walk down to Wall Steet and the charging bull statue. The testicles of the bull are brightly polished from all of the tourists who come to take their picture with the bull and "stroke" the bull.

[dayglored]

> The testicles of the bull are brightly polished from all of the tourists who come to take their picture with the bull and "stroke" the bull.

Oh, dear. This could explain a lot about Wall Street....

[Malacoda]

Thank GOD I wasn't the only one who went there.

Of course, Paris Hilton is almost always associated with lewdness...

[Family Guy]

Statuary rape?

cc,

you cracked me up with that one.

FG

[ExcursionGuy84]

Paris Hilton is almost always associated with lewdness...

So is San Francisco. [Captain Obvious Alert]