The theft of the Cotofenesti golden helmet and three gold bracelets from the Drents Museum in Assen has caused significant concern. The artifacts, key archaeological pieces from Romania, were stolen within minutes.
Claudia Marcu, a cultural journalist residing in the Netherlands since 2003, compared the theft’s impact to that of the Night Watch painting for the Dutch. In Romania, the helmet is a significant cultural icon, appearing in schoolbooks, and is made of nearly pure gold.
Romanian Prime Minister Ciolacu expressed on Facebook the urgency of recovering the “priceless” artifacts and trusted Dutch authorities to apprehend the perpetrators. The Romanian Ministry of Culture confirmed that all stolen items were insured.
They were part of the exhibition “Dacia – Land of Gold and Silver,” featuring over 600 items from ancient Dacia, including more than fifty gold and silver treasures. Andrea Teunissen-Oprea, Romania’s honorary consul in the Netherlands, emphasized the cultural loss for Europe if the pieces are not recovered.
She highlighted the Cotofenesti helmet’s significance, dating back to the 5th century BC and noted its global exhibition history. Art detectives and witnesses are urged to aid in the recovery.
Curator Irini Biezeveld explained the helmet’s unique symbolism, featuring imagery like a person sacrificing a lamb and mythical creatures. The stolen items were set to be displayed for the last time in Assen this weekend, with collaboration from Romania’s National History Museum in Bucharest.
A delegation from the Romanian museum is expected in Assen tomorrow.
Source: NOS