Tourist Damages 2,000 Year Old Terracotta Warriors

Summary

A 30-year-old domestic tourist damaged two warriors of China’s esteemed Terracotta Army in an incident last Friday.
The man, who officials believe “[suffers] from mental illness” is currently under investigation after he climbed the protective fence and jumped into the 18-foot-deep restricted pit at the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang in Xi’an, China.

Last Friday, an individual illegally entered a forbidden section of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang in Xi’an, China by climbing over a fence and leaping into the area. As a result, he accidentally harmed two valuable terracotta warriors.

A 30-year-old local traveler is said to have scaled past the safety barriers and netting, then leaped approximately 17 feet into Pit No. 3 as stated in an official report on Saturday. Inside, it’s alleged that he interacted roughly with some statues, causing damage of varying severity to them by pushing and pulling.

Videos of the event swiftly spread across Weibo, displaying a man on the ground amidst overturned statues. Security personnel stepped in not long after, taking the person into custody, as they suspect he may be suffering from some form of mental health issue.

In 1974, I stumbled upon a mind-blowing discovery – the Terracotta Army! As a farmer, I didn’t realize at the time that I was unearthing a treasure trove dating back to 210 BCE, created for China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, as his companions in the hereafter. The grand tomb complex houses over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers, each unique in their features, along with countless horses, chariots, and actual bronze weaponry! What an awe-inspiring testament to ancient craftsmanship!

Previously, the Terracotta Warriors have experienced damage. In 2017, an intoxicated individual in Philadelphia broke off a finger from one of the displayed statues at The Franklin Institute. During a court hearing in 2023, the perpetrator confessed he was prepared to part with his valuable sneaker collection to cover the repair costs.

During ongoing investigations regarding the latest incident, the museum continues to welcome visitors, as was confirmed by a representative to AFP.

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