A Roman statue of Mars displayed in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s office at Palazzo Chigi has been restored – with a new penis added on, under specific orders from the Italian leader.
The 2nd-century marble statue of the Roman god of war and Venus, goddess of love and beauty, was fixed for €70,000, without respecting traditional restoration techniques, La Repubblica daily said. But Berlusconi’s architect Mario Catalano said the restoration on the statue, which is on loan from the Terme di Diocleziano museum, was fully authorised, adding that the added body parts were “removable”.
Penises were often hacked off ancient Roman statues in the past as bizarre souvenirs, as well as out of prudishness during the Christian era. (AFP)
Man held over poppy tin theft
A man has been arrested following the theft of a Royal British Legion poppy tin which was filmed on CCTV, police said yesterday.
The 29-year-old was held last night in Bristol after appeals from the police and Royal British Legion.
A man was shown on CCTV walking up to the counter in a hardware store on Gloucester Road, in the Horfield area of Bristol, on November 9.
He used wire cutters to free the poppy collection tin and slipped it inside his jacket before leaving the shop.
An Avon and Somerset spokes-man said: “Police have arrested a 29-year-old man following the theft of a poppy tin caught on CCTV in Bristol. (PA)
Police bust archaeology looters
Italian art theft investigators yesterday announced they have busted a gang that looted ancient artifacts from archaeological sites in Italy to sell in Europe and the US.
“The thieves had been secretly digging up the artifacts with the help of metal detectors, and then trafficking the stolen goods to buyers in Italy and abroad,” said Raffaele Giovinazzo, head of Calabria’s heritage police squad.
The haul included over 4,000 ancient Roman and Byzantine silver and bronze coins, as well as 600 other artifacts like ceramic vases, broaches and necklaces of an estimated worth of €1,000,000. The loot came mainly from the Torre Mordillo archaeological site, an ancient necropolis surrounded by scrub land in the Calabria region.
Sixteen arrest warrants were issued after police became suspicious of the quantity of ancient artifacts put up for sale through online auctions. (PA)
Royal engagement ring replicas
Craftsmen at New York’s Natural Sapphire Company are busy producing the first of dozens of orders for replicas of Kate Middleton’s engagement ring.
Across the country, major jewellery stores also registered an increase in calls from clients interested in the brilliant blue gem.
First orders came in within minutes of Prince William revealing he had given his late mother Diana’s ring to his fiancee. (PA)
England’s tallest Christmas tree
Decorations were added yesterday to what is believed to be England’s tallest Christmas tree.
Climbers scaled the 113-foot Redwood tree and festooned it with 1,800 festive lights at Wakehurst Place in Ardingly, West Sussex.
The tree has become a local landmark and can be seen for miles around, including by pilots flying into Gatwick Airport.
It took arborists from Wakehurst’s conservation and woodland team up to nine hours to rig the lights.
The tree will form the centrepiece of Christmas festivities at Wakehurst – the country estate of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. (PA)
Sole supplier
After a three-year-old girl complained that her foot hurt, her teacher found 17 small plastic bags containing crack cocaine in her shoe.
The teachers in the US city of Boston told police the girl said her mother had put “candy” inside her shoe.
The mother was not arrested, but police said an investigation was continuing. (PA)
Skoda rated best car maker
Skoda is the best motor company, according to 30,000 What Car? magazine readers.
It has been voted best manufacturer in the 2010 What Car? Readers Awards, with Porsche second and Daihatsu third. Readers rated Saab as the worst overall manufacturer.
The best car award went to the BMW 1 Series Coupe, with the Land Rover Defender second.
Worst car overall was the Ford Focus CC (Coupe Cabriolet).
What Car? editor-in-chief Steve Fowler said: “The results suggest that no-one ever regrets buying a 1 Series Coupe, with the vast majority of readers dishing out a full five-star verdict. The entry-level BMW was complimented for its driving ability as well as its fuel consumption.” (PA)
‘Execution’ yard
A prison exercise area was described as an “execution yard” in a handbook for Russian inmates, inspectors said.
The translation error in the information booklet for Russian-speaking prisoners at Lincoln Prison was highlighted by inspectors following an unannounced visit in May.
A Russian handbook had translated ‘exercise yard’ as ‘execution yard’.” (PA)