Lake of the Idols, Archaeological lake in Foreste Casentinesi National Park, Italy.
Lake of the Idols is a high mountain water body situated at approximately 1380 meters elevation within Foreste Casentinesi National Park in the Tuscan Apennines. The site lies between forested slopes and has yielded thousands of bronze objects from ancient times.
The site became sacred to the Etruscans in the 6th century BC, when they began depositing thousands of bronze statuettes and arrowheads in its waters as ritual offerings. These deposits reveal a long tradition of votive practices at this mountain shrine.
This water site held sacred meaning for the Etruscans, who left bronze offerings to honor their gods. The statuettes show figures in prayer positions and carry symbols of weapons or gifts meant for deities.
Access is by marked hiking trails within the national park that pass through forested terrain and are easily walkable. Information centers near the site offer background details and guidance to help visitors navigate the area.
Many of the discovered bronze figures are now displayed in major international museums, including the British Museum and the Louvre. This global distribution shows how significant the archaeological collection is for European research and museum collections.
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