Arnolfo's St. Peter vandalized

A hand clutching the symbolic keys to heaven was cut from a 13th-century marble statue of St. Peter, which stands at the entrance to the grottoes under St. Peter's Basilica where the saint was buried.

Officials said Thursday the hand vanished a few days ago. They said they first suspected vandals but now believe the hand was stolen. Italian and Vatican police were investigating.

The statue is believed to have been sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio, who also did the bronze statue of St. Peter's upstairs in the basilica in the Vatican.

Posted by David on March 14, 2003 8:34 AM