A selection of legendary treasures of the past that were lost (16 photos)

Oh, how many amazing treasures from bygone eras could not “survive” to this day. Some of them were stolen or destroyed during fires and wars, others became victims of natural phenomena and disasters. And there are those who have completely disappeared for an unknown and mysterious reason. One way or another, they are still trying to find these artifacts of the past, because they carry incredible value for history and culture. Thanks to the available information and descriptions, scientists are often able to restore the appearance of lost treasures. However, unfortunately, a replica can never replace the original. So, let's take a look at replicas of these legendary jewels of the past.

Florentine or Austrian yellow diamond





The Florentine is inserted into the hat decoration. Original photo taken in 1870-1900



Known for its unique light yellow color and large size, this gemstone is one of the most expensive diamonds in the world. It weighs 137.45 carats. Previously, the treasure belonged to the Habsburgs. However, after their overthrow, the stone was stolen and taken to an unknown location.

Tucker Cross





An incredible golden cross found on a ship that sank back in 1594. The unusual find was attributed to the creations of ancient Indian masters. The cross was placed in a museum. However, in 1975, unknown persons stole the jewelry. Moreover, the theft was not discovered immediately. The attackers managed to plant a skillfully made plastic fake in place of the artifact.

Necklace of the Maharaja of Patiala



An incredible piece of jewelry created especially for Indian Maharaja Bhupinder Singh in 1928. In 1948, the treasure suddenly disappeared from the vault. The necklace was dismantled piece by piece and tried to be sold at various auctions around the world.

Royal Regalia of Ireland



The Irish Crown Jewels were stolen from Dublin more than 100 years ago.

the Amber Room





During World War II, the room, which consisted of amber panels, decorations and murals, was looted by Nazi soldiers. The original pieces of furniture have not yet been found. Today, everyone can go to St. Petersburg and admire the skillfully made copy.

Temple menorah



The menorah of Jerusalem's second temple was stolen by a group of Romans hundreds of years ago. The exact location of the shrine is still unknown.

Painting "Righteous Judges"



The painting belongs to the lower left panel of the Ghent Altarpiece. Written between 1430 and 1432. The panel was stolen in 1934 and has not yet been found. The photo on the left is the original, the photo on the right is the replica.

The Ghent Altarpiece consists of twenty-four panels



Cross of Saint Euphrosyne



This is a revered relic of the Orthodox Church in Belarus, made in 1161 by order of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk. The jewel disappeared after the rapid invasion of Belarus (June-August 1941) by German troops during World War II. In 1997, an exact copy of this cross was made.

Treasures of the Romanovs



Among the family's jewelry were tiaras, necklaces, Faberge items, and diamonds. There are suggestions that after the death of the Romanovs, their treasures were sent to GOKHRAN (a federal government institution). However, there are practically no traces left that would confirm the existence of this treasure.

Portrait of a young man, Raphael



A painting by a famous artist that was stolen by the Nazis in 1939. To date, no new traces of the canvas have been found.

Royal Czartoryski Box



The box was created by the Polish princess Isabella Czartoryska. It contained 73 precious relics that belonged to the Polish royal family. In 1939, the cache was looted by Wehrmacht soldiers.

Mask of a Faun, Michelangelo



A marble sculpture made by a famous artist was lost under unknown circumstances. Today only copies of this statue exist.

Flor de la Mar (flower of the sea) - a ship carrying treasures from the palace of the Sultan of Malacca



The Flower of the Sea was a Portuguese sailing ship that carried 200 chests of precious stones and diamonds. These incredible riches were supposed to be delivered to King Manuel I. However, on the night of November 20, 1511, the ship was caught in a strong storm and was wrecked. Nowadays, many treasure hunters are trying to find countless treasures hidden in the depths of the ocean. However, so far, unfortunately, without success.