Tourists' Selfie Busts Statue From 1700

Hercules is no match for the dreaded selfie, apparently. A 300-year-old statue of the figure was busted in Cremona, Italy, by tourists trying to snap a selfie. The two visitors were reportedly climbing on the "Statue of the Two Hercules" at the historic Loggia dei Militi building when the large crown atop the marble sculpture broke off and fell to the ground, Italy's Corriere della Sera paper reports, per the Local. Experts were expected to assess the damage to the statue yesterday and determine what repairs are necessary, reports the Telegraph, which offers a before-and-after comparison.

Police managed to track down the perpetrators, though it isn't yet clear if they'll face any charges. The blow to this particular statue is especially painful for the city as it is considered a symbol of Cremona and once sat on top of the city's gates. Created in 1700, the sculpture depicts two forms of Hercules—who founded the city, according to legend, the Independent reports—holding the city's emblem, a large kind of shield. It was moved to Loggia dei Militi on Piazza del Comune, a square in the center of the city, in 1962. (A selfie-taking student broke a leg off an Italian statue last year.)