AUDIO: HERCULES STATUE FOUND, VATICAN BUSTS DAMAGED
Two stories from the world of ancient art:
CLIP: Theme song from the old cartoon “The Mighty Hercules”
1. Archaeologists have discovered the remnants of a classical statue of The Mighty Hercules dating back more than 1,800 years. It was discovered in the ancient metropolis of Philippi, in northeastern Greece. The archaeologists believe the structure dates back to the eighth or ninth century A.D. The “larger than life” statue depicts a derobed, naked youthful Hercules, with a lion hanging from his left hand and a club, which was found in fragments.
* Ye gods.
* Are you sure that was his, er, ‘club’?
* I mean, they did say “larger than life.”
* Now we can play “Who’d You Rather” with Hercules and Michelangelo’s David.
2. Well… you win some, you lose some, because meanwhile, over in the Vatican, an American tourist broke two ancient Roman sculptures on Wednesday. The episode took place in the Vatican Museum which holds around 1,000 works of ancient statuary. The man had demanded to see the pope. When he was told he couldn’t, he allegedly hurled one Roman bust to the floor. As he ran off, with staff in pursuit, he knocked down another. One lost part of a nose and an ear, the head of the other came off the pedestal. Restoration work has already begun on the pieces. The man was arrested and handed over to the Italian authorities.
* The Swiss guards quickly whipped out their Swiss Army Knives and held the man at bay until they could cuff him.
* Busted for busting busts.
* Good luck to THAT guy. The Catholic Church are the ones who gave us the Inquisition.
