Subscribe to one of our news e-mail lists . It was hidden in storerooms for years, deemed far too risque for public display. Even though some of the pieces are 2,000 years old, they are remarkably graphic. And that's not deterring museumgoers.
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The erotic art was discovered in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was entombed by volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. and was excavated in the 1700s. Much of the collection was assembled by a Catholic cardinal in the 18th century, but it was for his private viewing pleasure, not for public display. You might figure these works would have been for private perusal during ancient Roman times as well. You'd be wrong. A large erection, for example, was considered a sign of prosperity.