2023-06-17 14:40:29
Environmentalists have caused permanent damage to the historic Lacoon statue in the Vatican after sticking glue to the work’s plinth. Activists Guido Viero and Ester Goffi were responsible for the act, which took place in 2022, and recently condemned by Vatican Justice.
With the damage caused to the statue, the court sentenced the duo to nine months in prison on parole and also to pay a fine of €30,000 (almost R$160,000). Laura Zorzini, who filmed the actreceived a fine of 120 euros (R$ 629).
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The damaged statue would have been carved in the first century BC Discovered in Rome, in 1506, the historic work shows a Trojan priest and his children in the midst of an attack by sea serpents.
Environmentalists were likely aware of the damage to the historic statue.
Vatican State lawyer Floriana Gigli says the convicts caused “inestimable damage” to an artistic and cultural item of history. She claimed that environmentalists were aware that the act could cause permanent damage. Even so, they opted to glue their hands to the base of the work, and not to the top.
During a pre-conviction hearing, the pair denied intent to cause damage to the statue. Ester claimed she used a solvent during the act, but says Vatican authorities used a substance, with acetone as a base, to unstuck them.
Environmentalists say the accusation of vandalism against the Vatican statue is “disproportionate and absurd”. “The Vatican, one of the last absolute monarchies in the world, shows all its hypocrisy with this verdict”, said the environmentalists.
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