What happened when Venetian forces attempted to remove sculptures from the Parthenon?

When Venetian forces under the command of Francesco Morosini attempted to remove sculptures from the Parthenon as loot, their efforts resulted in the destruction of the artwork. Specifically, while attempting to lower the sculptures of Athena’s horses from the center of the west pediment, the men lacked the necessary expertise to handle the delicate pieces. Consequently, the masterpieces fell and were smashed to bits on the rock below.1

This event occurred following the 1687 bombardment of the Acropolis, during which a direct hit from Venetian artillery caused a Turkish powder magazine inside the temple to explode, severely damaging the building's center.21