That's not Acceptable! These types of things should never happen! Better security needs too be implemented unfortunately!

I am from there and the issue was and is the lack of funding, hence the lack of staff they where really understaffed, only 20 when it should have been 50 security personnel. Portugal "invests" in the pockets of certain political figures mostly with it's shady deals that ruin the country and the art and culture they rather sell it and buy a porshes, former minister of culture in 2010 something did it.

It was not "destroyed", museum staff told it will be fully recovered.

I am really surprised there is not a rope around such a piece, and that it was not in some way mounted, securely. In many museums you would not get close enough to be able to touch anything at all, there would be at least a metre surrounding, no go zone. As far as selfies being the cause, he apparently stumbled back. That may have happened in any picture taking situation. Careless maybe, intentional no, and I am sure he is probably mortified, to be in the museum in the first place shows he was interested in such things, that does not scream hooligan.

The guy should be sued heavily for the destruction of the artwork.

In all fairness, the museum should have gone to much greater lengths to ensure the safety of the statue. That said, selfies are idiotic.

He should have to pay for the repairs .. he broke it

If it was 400 years old it's 4 centuries old. We live in the 21st century. -4 would mean it's 17th century not 18th. Weird part I also read an article about a 126 year old statue of a Portuguese king that was knocked over and that was from the 16th century. Which would have been 500 years ago. So make up your mind! How old are these statues? And please connect them to the right century because this is really not professional.

...... was the statue merely resting on the pedestal !!!!!? this might be at least partially the fault of the museum.

Selfi the wrong way. Nothing wrong with selfies. Unless you exaggerate and break an artifact.

Part of the fault belongs to the museum. WHY would they put such a rare and fragile piece on display in such an unprotected manner??

I wonder if the "person" who did this will have to pay any fines or charges?

All these people wanting to criticize the museum. How about we, as people, in a museum full of ancient artifacts, try to have a bit more sense and respect? The museum shouldn't have to worry about it, people should be more respectful and decent, period.

Just do what they do at the Cairo museum,keep people's cameras,bags and phones in outside lockers!security cameras will catch the rest.

Oh man!! Selfies are still good th

Should have been a bit more protected.....

How is it even possible to knock a statue off its pedestal without a great measure of force being applied? Really, shouldn't the museum make it near impossible to knock statues over that are out in full view and not under glass?

What a total idiot and vandal, ruining a work of art like that. Museums should keep such tourists away from priceless objects.

This makes me sad...a work of art that survived centuries, destroyed in one fell swoop. The problem isn't phones, it is people's failure to remain aware of their environment while using them.

But why?

Selfies are cancer. You look so ridiculous taking a photograph of yourself. That's what photographers are for. Not every single thing you do needs to be documented. You're not a celebrity and you're not that interesting. People have no mystery anymore :(

there should at least be a glass cage which can house the statue! having it be shattered to pieces is not acceptable!!

Human stupidity has no limits

How stupid can you be to knock over a priceless piece of art for a freaking selfie hope it was worth and I hope this guy does jail time this is destruction of private property go back to Brazil JERK.

I hope they fine that Brazilian big time!

beyond repair? Really, it didn't look beyond repair in the photo. Still, selfies destroy, people.

Its sad to see when modern technology leads to the destruction of parts of humanity’s rich historic past(s). But I guess its not just modern technology, but the advancements in technology that our human brains can’t keep up with. 0.o

Shamd on you.

Yep, true +100000

It is not beyond repair. Stupid though.

Tinha que ser brasileiro.

Smooth move, ex-lax. -_-

18th-58234...4ef80e.jpg

What is going to happen with the man? Does he gonna pay? Money? Jail? What happen to the world nowadays? What are in their brains..? Why the idea to take a selfie?? There are places and moments to take "selfies" or photos, there are places and moments to behave.

When Brazilian goes to japan, broke that bridge that resist to a nuclear bomb... what you think? =D

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Are they Chinese tourists ? Chinese are famous for this kind of messy