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Franco Castano'/AP/Press Association Images

Part of ancient fresco stolen from Pompeii

Part of the depiction was chiseled off with a metallic object.

THIEVES HAVE STOLEN part of an ancient fresco from Pompeii, breaking in to a closed area of the UNESCO World Heritage landmark and chipping off a portrait of a Greek deity.

A custodian doing rounds last week discovered “the removal of a part of a fresco in the House of Neptune,” where a depiction of the goddess Artemis had been “chiseled off with a metallic object,” the Roman site’s curator department said in a statement.

Police have launched an investigation into the theft of the 20 centimetre wide fragment, which occurred in an area closed to the public, leaving a glaring white slash in the pink-toned fresco, where a second Greek character now stands forlornly alone.

The discovery sparked outrage in Italy, with Il Messaggero describing it as “a shame for the country”, made doubly embarrassing by the recent appointment of a new “super-superintendent” for the site.

The theft comes on the back of a series of collapses in the long-neglected ruins near Naples, which have drawn international concern.

The Temple of Venus and walls of a tomb were damaged earlier this month after heavy rains, prompting the European Union to urge Italy to “take care of Pompeii, because it is emblematic not only for Europe but also for the world”.

In response, Italy said it would unblock some €2 million to help oil the wheels of a major EU-backed project to restore the site.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also appealed to private investors to help restore the ruins.

Last year, conservation workers began a €105 million makeover of Pompeii, funded by the EU to the tune of €41.8 million.

But according to the Corriere della Sera daily, only €588,000 have been spent so far – just 0.56 per cent of the funds.

The project is seen as crucial to the survival of the 44-hectare site in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that destroyed the city of Pompeii in 79 AD.

More: Could Mona Lisa have been a feminist who wanted more women in the Church?

Read: Jay Z and Beyonce depicted as famous works of art

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    Mute Chaos Ape
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:05 PM

    Just don’t eat it…

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    Mute Ciarán FitzGerald
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:09 PM

    But the wild Sika in Wicklow is lovely!!!

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    Mute kjholt
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:18 PM

    @Ciarán FitzGerald: wild? He’s furious, freezin up there..

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    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:39 PM

    @Chaos Ape: Don’t eat the yellow snow, that’s where the sika go…. to quote Frank Zappa.

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    Mute Martin St John
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    Feb 12th 2020, 3:10 PM

    @Chaos Ape: weather permitting

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    Mute Eoin Jordan
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    Feb 13th 2020, 9:33 AM

    @Chaos Ape: Is that your tip for the author? :D

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:19 PM

    I presume there’ll be snow in Meath then

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    Mute Olivia Dunne
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:22 PM

    @The only INFP in Ireland: Is that what you got from that article?

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:51 PM

    @The only INFP in Ireland: slipped and bust my knee this morning icy outside watchout

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    Mute The only INFP in Ireland
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    Feb 12th 2020, 4:56 PM

    @Olivia Dunne: Yep.

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    Mute Trevor Sheahan
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:46 PM

    Don’t eat the Yellow snow-ice.

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Feb 12th 2020, 1:52 PM

    @Trevor Sheahan: ff fg wetthemselves when they saw the result at the poll

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    Mute Peter Duff
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    Feb 12th 2020, 4:09 PM

    Thanks for the warning folks

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    Mute Jacqui Curtis-owens
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    Feb 12th 2020, 5:21 PM

    Seen a man and a school kid come of their bikes thismorning …dangerous

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    Mute Gerry Gleeson
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    Feb 12th 2020, 4:05 PM

    Yellow snow is always a danger

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    Mute minorproblem
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    Feb 12th 2020, 6:37 PM

    Cocaine country

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