More than two dozen exquisitely preserved bronze statues, crafted 2,000 years ago, have been meticulously extracted from the mud of ancient thermal baths in Tuscany, Italy. These remarkable artifacts are poised to rewrite history, shedding light on the transition from the Etruscan civilization to the Roman Empire, as they bear both Etruscan and Latin inscriptions.
The statues, unearthed in the hilltop town of San Casciano dei Bagni in the Siena province, approximately 100 miles north of Rome, provide a unique glimpse into a harmonious coexistence between the Etruscans and Romans. While historical records often depict conflicts between these civilizations during the second century BC and the first century AD, the recent discovery suggests that in this particular region, people from both groups continued to pray together to deities in a sacred sanctuary.
Archaeologists, undertaking excavations since 2019, carefully removed layers of dirt to reveal statues depicting human-like figures of deities such as Apollo and Igea. Interestingly, individual body parts and organs were also uncovered, showcasing the intricacy of these votive offerings. The statues, intended as gifts to the gods in exchange for medicinal cures through the baths’ waters, exemplify the spiritual practices of the time.
Gennaro Sangiuliano, the new Italian Minister of Culture, lauds this find as an “exceptional discovery for Italy,” describing the statues as “immense and unique treasures.” The significance of the discovery lies not only in the artistic and historical value of the statues but also in their potential to reshape our understanding of the relationship between the Etruscans and Romans during a period marked by territorial warfare.
Jacopo Tabolli, who coordinated the excavation for the University for Foreigners in Siena, emphasizes the importance of the discovery in shedding new light on the end of the Etruscan civilization and the expansion of the Roman Empire. He notes that, within the sanctuary, elite Etruscan and Roman families prayed together despite the conflicts outside, providing an exceptional opportunity to reconsider the historical dynamics between these ancient cultures.
The sanctuary, active from the third century BC until the fifth century AD, was eventually abandoned with the rise of Christianity. As Christianity gained dominance, the statues were submerged in water, and the pools were closed off with massive pillars and stones. This discovery represents the largest deposit of bronzes from this era in Italy, challenging the rarity of artifacts from the Etruscan civilization, often overshadowed by Roman conquests.Massimo Osanna, a top culture ministry official, hails this as one of the most remarkable discoveries in the history of the ancient Mediterranean, comparing its significance to the uncovering of the Riace Bronzes in 1972. Covered by nearly 6,000 bronze, silver, and gold coins, these statues remained remarkably preserved in San Casciano’s hot muddy waters.
