Italian prime minister Berlusconi ordered a new penis

Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been criticised for ordering a new penis to be attached to a Roman statue of Mars. According to La Repubblica, the 2nd century figure of god of war Mars and goddess of love and beauty Venus was repaired at a cost of ˆ70,000 (£60,000). A new hand was also added to Mars and one to Venus.

It is claimed that the work was done "on the express orders of the prime minister" without taking traditional restoration techniques into account.

The piece is currently on loan to Berlusconi from Terme di Diocleziano. Berlusconi's architect Mario Catalano claimed that the restoration was authorised and that the additions were fully "removable".

However, opposition Democratic Party leader Manuela Ghizzoni criticised the decision to repair the statue while cuts are being made in public spending, adding: "This is real aesthetic surgery carried out on the personal whim of the prime minister."


/Digital Spy/