Italian archaeologists found dozens of bronze statues of deities from the Etruscan era between the second century B.C. and the first century A.D. in Tuscany, Italy, archaeologists announced Tuesday.
Jacopo Tabolli, the Etruscan specialist who led the project, said it was an “unparalleled” discovery that promised to shed new light on the period. It was discovered during a three-year excavation of the site that also uncovered 5,000 gold, silver, and bronze coins.“The Tuscan site is the largest deposit of bronze statues from the Etruscan and Roman age ever discovered in ancient Italy and one of the most significant in the entire Mediterranean,” Tabolli told Reuters.
The statues are of deities that were venerated at a sanctuary in San Casciano dei Bagni. The sanctuary was established first by the Etruscans and expanded under the Romans, according to Italy’s culture ministry, and includes statues of the Roman god Apollo and Hygieia, the goddess of health. Other smaller statues were also discovered.
The warm waters in Tuscany helped preserve the bronze statues well enough that inscriptions in Etruscan and Latin are still visible and showcase the names of important Etruscan families, Tabolli said.The statues are among the most remarkable discoveries"in the history of the ancient Mediterranean" and the most significant since two bronze statues of Greek warriors that date back to the fifth century B.C.
The statues have been taken to a restoration laboratory near the site, but they will eventually be put on display in a new museum in San Casciano, the culture ministry told the outlet.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Discovery of bronzes rewrites Italy's Etruscan-Roman historyROME (AP) — Italian authorities on Tuesday announced the extraordinary discovery of more than 2,000-year-old bronze statues in an ancient Tuscan thermal spring and said the find will “rewrite history” about the transition from the Etruscan civilization to the Roman Empire.
Read more »
'Exceptional' discovery as ancient bronze statues emerge in TuscanyArchaeologists in Italy have found more than two dozen beautifully preserved bronze statues dating back to ancient Roman times in thermal baths in Tuscany, in what experts are hailing as an 'exceptional' discovery.
Read more »
New Recipe Discovered by Italian Researchers Extends Shelf Life of Fresh Pasta by 30 DaysChanges to product packaging, addition of bioprotective, and antimicrobial bacteria called probiotics add 30 days to how long the popular food staple can be stored. In Italy, pasta is serious business, with reportedly more than 300 specific forms known by some 1,300 names. They even have a 55-yea
Read more »
German-flagged charity vessel refuses to leave Italian portA German-flagged charity vessel refused to leave the Sicilian port of Catania on Sunday, after Italian authorities said not all the migrants it was carrying could disembark, the NGO responsible for the vessel said.
Read more »
Reader: Denver Is Losing Its Old-School Italian JointsHow about some old-school Italian tonight?
Read more »