Rome landmark damaged after tusk snaps

A cherished 17th-century marble elephant statue, designed by Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini, has been found damaged in the heart of Rome.

The left tusk of the sculpture, known affectionately as “Elefantino,” was discovered snapped off and lying at the base of the monument in Piazza della Minerva.

Authorities are reviewing video footage to determine whether the damage was caused by vandalism or by weeks of unusually heavy rainfall.

Italy’s Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has declared his belief that it was an “absurd act of barbarity.”

This is not the first time the statue has suffered such a fate—the tip of the same tusk was broken off in November 2016 and later restored.

The elephant, created in 1667 by Ercole Ferrata based on Bernini’s design, supports an ancient Egyptian obelisk and stands just steps from the Pantheon, making it one of Rome’s most beloved and visited landmarks.

The investigation continues as the city mourns the loss of a piece of its artistic heritage.