The Cotofenesti helmet, a 2,500-year-old national treasure from Romania, was stolen from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands, sparking shockwaves and raising concerns about museum security. Romanian authorities are devastated by the loss, calling it a 'crime against our state,' while Dutch investigators are searching for clues.
The prize in this art heist is worth more than gold. To Romania, the ancient helmet is a priceless cultural heirloom. To the Netherlands , it’s a stolen artifact that authorities hope to retrieve to uphold a reputation for safe museums. The intricate golden Cotofenesti helmet dates back some 2,500 years and is one of Romania’s most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization.
Romanian Justice Minister Radu Marinescu called the incident a “crime against our state” and said recovering the artifacts “is an absolute priority.' The helmet's fame and dramatic studded appearance means it could never easily be sold, raising fears the thieves were after the gold itself. “It is simply unsellable. The whole world knows it. So, they likely went for the gold to — I almost dare not utter the words — melt it,” said Dutch art expert Arthur Brand.
ART THEFT MUSEUM SECURITY ANCIENT ARTIFACTS ROMANIA NETHERLANDS
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