Tourism officials for the city were shocked recently to discover that a photo gallery they had put up on Facebook - including a shot of the statue from the rear - had been blocked on the site because Facebook censors recognized it as an image of a nude man.

The statue does indeed depict a nude man. The city is quick to point out it is, indeed, a statue, not a man. However, rather than get into an argument with Facebook, city officials reposted the photo, this time with a pair of red digital swimming trunks protecting both Hercules' modesty and the world from a view of his buttocks. "We thought, before we got into a long back-and-forth fight, we'd just pull some swim trunks on him. We might even get a little extra attention that way," said Ute Schulte, head of tourism at the GrimmHeimat NordHessen regional tourism office.

At least, Facebook apologizes, Herkules can stay naked.

is/at (dpa)