Naples Opens "Forbidden Collection" to Public

The National Archaeological Museum at Naples has opened the contents of the so-called Forbidden Collection to the public. The collection of Roman erotica, most of which was discovered at Pompeii and Herculaneum during 18th century excavations, has been kept locked away for most of the past 200 years.

The vast collection consists of more than 250 frescoes, mosaics, amulets, statues, talismans and oil lamps, including a very famous 2nd century AD marble statue of the mythological Pan copulating with a goat.

For most of their modern history, the controversial objects could only be viewed with special permission. At times in the past, the collection was deemed so ruinous that even noted archaeologists were denied access.

Parts of the collection were published in the 1960s when the room was briefly opened to the public before it was closely "for renovations" until April 2000.