Pompeii Fresco Stolen Off the Wall
Published at
File photo. iStock/Thinkstock(ROME) — A priceless ancient fresco from the once-buried city of Pompeii has been stolen off the wall.
Thieves broke into a closed-off area of the ancient city and chipped off an 8-inch mural portrait of the Greek goddess of hunting, Artemis.
It’s the second time this year that a part of the UNESCO World Heritage site has shown signs of poor surveillance. In January, authorities discovered a relic from Pompeii on sale on eBay.
Pompeii and other major historic sites are chronically underfunded and in desperate need of repair. Earlier this month, the city’s Temple of Venus and walls of a tomb partially collapsed under heavy rain.
Italy’s new prime minister has appealed to private investors to help fund restoration as has happened at the Colosseum.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio