Norway’s ‘troll penis’ rock re-erected

OSLO - Norway's "troll penis"—a phallic-looking rock formation that made international headlines after it was apparently lopped off by unknown vandals—was standing back up to attention as of Friday.

With the help of some scaffolding, the rude-looking protuberance—weighing in at about 12 tons—was hoisted up and then securely fastened to the cliff-face from which it had previously jutted in southwest Norway, television images showed.

Picture taken on June 17, 2017 shows the Trollpikken rock formation in Egersund, western Norway, before it was vandalized. Inge Aalbu/NTB Scanpix/AFP

Picture taken on June 24, 2017 shows the Trollpikken rock formation in Egersund, western Norway, after it was vandalized. Carina Johansen/NTB Scanpix/AFP

Workers try to lift the rock formation Trollpikken in Egersund, western Norway, after it was vandalized. Torstein BOE/NTB Scanpix/AFP

The "Trollpikken" was discovered at the foot of its usual position two weeks ago, with grooves in the rock that pointed to an act of vandalism.

A crowdfunding site quickly raised the 227,000 kroner($27,000, €24,000) needed to restore it to its former glory.

Despite the rock formation's new-found notoriety, tourists will have to wait another week to go and gawp at the Trollpikken, in order to give the glue, cement and metal fastenings time to seal properly.

Norwegian police have questioned a suspect over the incident. — Agence France-Presse