A long-standing relief has been removed from Denmark’s Bastion in Fredericia, and it is still unclear when the theft occurred. The relief, which is believed to be made of either bronze or copper, was stolen from Lunding’s Monument on Denmark’s Bastion, according to Fredericia Dagblad, a local newspaper.

The mayor of Fredericia Municipality, Laila Jensen, has stated that the theft will be reported to the police. “A colleague discovered it a few days ago, and I was at the monument myself yesterday and could confirm that the relief is gone,” she told Fredericia Dagblad.

Lunding’s Monument was erected on July 6, 1899, in honor of Colonel Niels Christian Lunding, commemorating Fredericia’s heroic defense in 1849. The monument features a 7.5-meter high obelisk surrounded by an iron fence. The stolen relief, which was located on the back of the monument, depicted Kalliope, the muse of heroic poetry, inscribing on a plaque, “For Denmark’s righteous cause they fought bravely.”

According to Laila Jensen, the stolen relief was made from either copper or bronze, but it could also have been cast in iron and then surface-treated with copper.

Colonel Lunding served as the commander in Fredericia from 1849 to 1850 and again in 1864. He played a key role in the restoration of the neglected fortress and was involved in planning the sortie on July 6, 1849. In 1864, he was forced to surrender the fortress to Austrian troops against his will, at which point he had been promoted to major general.