The Coțofenești golden helmet, a 2,500-year-old artifact crafted from 1 kg of pure gold, was stolen during a robbery at the Drenthe Museum in Assen, Netherlands. The helmet, a centerpiece of the exhibition "Dacia - The Land of Gold and Silver," was on loan from the National Historical Museum of Romania in Bucharest.
During the heist, which involved explosives, thieves also took royal bracelets. The helmet, used by Dacian nobility, represents the advanced metalworking skills of the Dacians and their wealth from the gold-rich Transylvanian Ore Mountains, as reported by Arkeonews.
The incident has prompted strong reactions from officials in both the Netherlands and Romania. Drenthe Museum director Harry Tupan referred to it as "a black day for the museum and our Romanian colleagues," emphasizing the unprecedented nature of such a crime in the museum's 170-year history. Assen's mayor, Marco Out, expressed his shock and noted that multiple government agencies, including the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are involved in the investigation.
Dutch authorities have initiated cross-border cooperation and engaged Interpol in the search for the stolen artifacts. Scholars assert that this theft significantly undermines efforts to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of ancient civilizations, with the stolen items symbolizing Romanian identity and history.
The Coțofenești helmet, dating back to 400 BC, is associated with the Geto-Dacian culture and is believed to have belonged to an unidentified king. Its carvings feature mythical creatures and ritual sacrifice scenes, including a ram with a human figure standing over it, potentially depicting a "king-priest-god" performing a sacrifice.
Additionally, the helmet showcases three winged creatures with human faces, reminiscent of Iranian sphinx imagery, and protective eyes that may symbolize the wearer’s keen vision. The helmet was discovered in 1929 by a boy named Traian in the village of Poiana Coțofenești, now known as Verbileu, Romania.