A statue is seen at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this undated photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Italian authorities said on Tuesday that they had found 2,000-year-old bronze statues in an ancient thermal spring, which they said would rewrite history about the transition from the Etruscan civilization to the Roman Empire.
The two dozen figurines and other bronze objects were found in a perfect state of preservation thanks to the mud that protected them. There were 5000 coins in gold, silver and bronze.
The ministry decided to build a new museum in the area because of the importance of the find.
Archaeologists work at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this update photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Friday, July 29, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Etruscan and Roman families prayed together to deities in the sacred sanctuary of the thermal springs, despite the wars and conflicts of the period. Both Etruscan and Latin inscriptions can be found on the statues of Apollo and Igea.
Tabolli said that the great elite Etruscan and Roman families prayed together in a context of peace surrounded by conflict. There is a chance to rewrite the relationship between the Etruscans and Romans.
The ministry said in a statement that some of the bronzes are representations of deities, while others are representations of individual body parts and organs which would have been offered up as votive offerings to the gods.
Finds, part of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, are seen in this undated photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Archaeologists work at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this update photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
A statue is seen at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this undated photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Archaeologists work at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this update photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
A statue is seen at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this undated photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Archaeologists work at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this update photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Archaeologists work at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this update photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Finds, part of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, are seen in this undated photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Archaeologists work at the site of the discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues from an ancient Tuscan thermal spring in San Casciano dei Bagni, central Italy, in this update photo made available by the Italian Culture Ministry, Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022. Credit: Italian Culture Ministry via AP
Osanna gestured to a lung at the restoration laboratory where the bronzes are being treated. The ears and hands are similar. The intervention of the divinities would have saved a lot of things.
The ministry said that the find is notable because most of the antiquities from the period are in terracotta.
Tabolli said that it was a discovery that would rewrite history.
50 years ago, the Riace bronze warriors were discovered by a recreational diver in the waters off southern Calabria and became one of Italy's most spectacular archaeological finds. There are two naked life-sized and life-like Greek warriors on display at the national archaeological museum in Reggio Calabria.
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