In a groundbreaking find, 24 exquisitely preserved bronze statues, crafted over 2,000 years ago, have emerged from the muddy depths of ancient thermal baths in San Casciano dei Bagni, a hilltop village in Tuscany’s Siena province, about 100 miles north of Rome.
Discovered during excavations that began in 2019, these artifacts, submerged in the hot springs for centuries, offer a rare glimpse into the transition from the Etruscan civilization to the Roman Empire, challenging long-held assumptions about their relationship.
A Window into a Shared Sanctuary
Dating from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, these bronzes—unlike the more common terracotta artifacts of the period—bear both Etruscan and Latin inscriptions. This suggests a remarkable coexistence: while the Etruscans and Romans clashed in prolonged territorial wars, elite families from both cultures prayed side by side in this sacred sanctuary.
The statues, including depictions of deities like Apollo and Igea, as well as individual body parts and organs, were likely votive offerings to the gods, seeking healing through the baths’ therapeutic waters.
Jacopo Tabolli, who led the excavation for the University for Foreigners in Siena, calls the find a “unique opportunity” to rewrite the narrative of Etruscan-Roman relations. “While social and civil wars raged outside, inside the sanctuary, Etruscan and Roman elites shared a peaceful space for worship,” he noted. The discovery highlights a period of cultural osmosis amidst conflict, offering evidence of harmony in a time of turmoil.
Video Shows Newly Discovered Ancient Roman Bronze Statues
A Treasure Preserved by Mud
The 24 large statues, some nearly a meter tall, and several smaller statuettes were found alongside nearly 6,000 bronze, silver, and gold coins. The hot, muddy waters of San Casciano preserved them in near-pristine condition, “almost as on the day they were immersed,” according to Tabolli.
Unlike the typical terracotta finds, these bronzes are a rarity, making this the largest deposit of its kind from this era in Italy. The statues, etched with names believed to belong to powerful local families, were meticulously cleaned to reveal their intricate details, restoring their ancient splendor.
Rewriting Etruscan History
The Etruscans, who migrated to Italy from western Anatolia around 2,500 years ago, were a dominant Mediterranean trading power, controlling northern and southern regions before the rise of the Roman Empire in 27 BC. As Rome expanded, it systematically absorbed Etruscan cities and erased much of their cultural legacy, making Etruscan artifacts exceptionally rare. This discovery, however, reveals a moment of unity, showing that not all interactions between the two cultures were hostile.
The sanctuary remained active until the 5th century AD, when the rise of Christianity led to its abandonment. The statues were submerged in the baths, and the pools were sealed with massive pillars and stones. Their rediscovery marks one of the most significant finds in the ancient Mediterranean, rivaling the 1972 discovery of the Riace Bronzes, a pair of Greek warrior statues found off Italy’s coast.
A Broader Context: The Poggio Colla Stele
This find echoes another rare Etruscan discovery in 2016 at Poggio Colla, northeast of Florence. Archaeologists uncovered a 2,500-year-old sandstone stele, a 500-pound slab nearly four feet tall, inscribed with over 70 legible letters and punctuation marks. Believed to be a sacred text, possibly naming a deity, it offers further insight into the Etruscans’ lost language and beliefs. “This is a remarkable window into the early belief system of a culture fundamental to western traditions,” said Gregory Warden, principal investigator of the Mugello Valley Archaeological Project.
A Legacy Unearthed
Described by Italy’s Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, as “immense and unique treasures,” and by Massimo Osanna, a top culture official, as one of the most significant discoveries since the Riace Bronzes, the San Casciano bronzes are a testament to a multicultural haven in an era of conflict. They challenge the narrative of total Etruscan assimilation by Rome, revealing a shared spiritual space where differences were set aside. As Tabolli puts it, “It’s a discovery that will rewrite history,” illuminating a forgotten chapter of coexistence and reverence in ancient Italy.
