Statue of Heracles, Arcachon

Detail of pedestal listing local resistance agents who were killed in the war

The Statue of Heracles in the Parc Mauresque in Arcachon, Gironde, was installed in 1948 to commemorate the actions of the French Resistance in fighting German occupying forces during the Second World War. The nude statue, sculpted by local sculptor Claude Bouscau, stands 3.1 metres (10 ft) tall and depicts the ancient Greek hero Heracles after defeating the Nemean lion. On two occasions shortly after its installation Bouscau reduced the size of the statue's penis, following complaints from local women. The statue’s penis has frequently been stolen and in 2016 the city council decided it would not be replaced permanently but that a temporary penis would be installed when public events were held near the statue.

Commissioning

The city of Arcachon, Gironde, sought to commemorate the efforts of the French Resistance during the Second World War. Locally born sculptor Claude Bouscau was asked to design a sculpture to stand in the city's Parc Mauresque ("Moorish Park"). Bouscau proposed two reliefs depicting the figures of "Victory" and "Resistance" together with a fire bowl. The city rejected this proposal as too expensive. Bouscau instead proposed that one of his existing works, a statue of the Greek hero Heracles, be erected.

The 3.1-metre (10 ft) high marble sculpture depicted Heracles triumphing over the Nemean lion, the first of his twelve labours, which would stand for the allied victory over Nazi Germany. The statue had been completed by Bouscau in Italy before the war and its model was an opponent of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. It depicts Heracles naked apart from the pelt of the lion, which he wears on his head, in the manner of a cape. His right hand holds, behind his back, the club he used to daze the animal while his left hand holds two snakes. The Heracles statue was approved and inaugurated in the park on 22 August 1948. Soon after its installation Bouscau twice reduced the size of the statue's penis, following complaints from local ladies that it was too large, despite Heracles being regarded as a symbol of virility by the Ancient Greeks.

Vandalism

The penis of the statue has been stolen and not recovered on numerous occasions. When it was stolen in June 2010 it took until January 2011 for a replacement to be installed. By 2016 the mayor's office had a mould of the penis from which replacements were cast. In 2016 the mayor, Yves Foulon, stated "I wouldn't want anyone – not even my worst enemies – to go through what happens to this statue" and the absence of the penis caused embarrassment to the council during some ceremonies held at the statue.

In 2016 it was decided by the council to not replace the penis. Instead a detachable penis was fabricated and it would only be installed during public events held at the statue. The deputy mayor Martine Phellipot was inspired to commission the detachable penis by her medical background. She noted "We chose the option of making a removable prosthesis which is placed on the statue before each ceremony. It's the only way to avoid constantly chasing after his anatomy". The detachable penis was made by Thomas Castelnau, an artist employed by the city council. The penis screws into the statue; when it is absent only a thin metal rod remains.