Is it true that in Norway they once cut down a rock called Troll's Dick and then put it back up?

A couple of years ago, news appeared on the Internet: supposedly in Norway there was a landmark - a rock in the shape of a penis called the Troll's Dick. But one day unknown vandals cut it down. Upset by the incident, the Norwegians organized a fundraiser through crowdfunding, and eventually restored the landmark, installing the Troll Dick back. We checked whether this story happened in reality.

That's it told Lenta.ru journalists in June 2017:

“In Norway, activists are raising funds to restore the tourist attraction Trollpikken (translated as “troll penis”), a phallic-shaped fragment of rock protruding from the rock. <…>

Experts believe that the object was damaged by vandals: most of the “penis” was broken off and thrown there; traces of drilled holes are visible on the stone. The damage to the rock, which is located in the municipality of Eigersund in the south of the country, was noticed on Saturday, June 24.”

Various English-language publications wrote about this story at that time: BBC, The Guardian, Huffpost And Vice. That’s because yes: oddly enough, it happened in reality.

On June 24, 2017, a group of Norwegians living in the commune of Eigersund went on a short hike and discoveredthat a local landmark was broken.

The shape of the rock resembled an erect penis, and in January 2017, two local residents filed application for the name of the attraction - Trollpikken (translated as “troll member”). 

This was not unusual. In Norway, it is customary to name many rocks, and the troll is one of the mythical creatures that, according to legend, turns into stone in the light of day. Therefore, calling rocks troll body parts is common practice. For example, one of the most famous rock attractions in Norway called Trolltunga, translated as “troll tongue”, because it is flat in shape, protrudes far into the fjord and really resembles a protruding tongue.

But, apparently, not all residents of the region liked the name. The fact is that the Eigersund commune is known for its conservative views and religiosity. This may have been the reason why someone actually brought the rock down a few months later.

Local residents who discovered the “crime scene” found not only broken rock, but also traces of a drill. Apparently, someone tried to separate the protruding part of the stone using improvised means, and he succeeded.

Residents started call to find and arrest the vandals who destroyed the unusual rock. And in the process organized Fundraising: Through crowdfunding, over 1,200 people donated approximately NOK 226,000 (approximately $27,000) in just a few days. A private company organized the installation: with the help of special fasteners and cement, the stone installed back.

And in August 2017, the police found and detained the alleged vandal. However, we were unable to find out whether he was ultimately convicted.

Is it true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Norway's Beloved 'Troll Penis' Rock Is Erect Again
2. Norwegians raise cash to re-erect 'penis' rock
3. Norway's 'troll penis' rock re-erected
4. TROLLPIKKEN / Visit Norway