San Casciano bronzes, Archaeological artifacts in San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy.
The collection comprises twenty-four bronze figures extracted from thermal waters at Bagno Grande spring, depicting deities, emperors, and matrons from Roman and Etruscan times. The objects blend religious symbols with portraits, illustrating the diversity of ancient belief systems and social hierarchy.
The bronze figures date to the second century BC and remained hidden in thermal waters for over two millennia until their discovery during excavations in 2022. The finds provide evidence of intensive use of this site during late antiquity as a religious sanctuary.
The statues served as offerings to healing deities, placed in thermal waters by people seeking cures and blessings from the divine. This practice reveals how Romans and Etruscans relied on supernatural intervention to address their ailments.
The finds will be displayed in a newly built museum housed in a sixteenth-century building, along with an archaeological park on site. Visitors should allow time for exploration, as the complex spans several areas.
This collection represents the largest deposit of ancient bronze statues ever found in Italy, surpassing in scale and significance other well-known discoveries such as the Riace Bronzes. The simultaneous presence of figures from various social ranks offers rare insight into the diversity of ancient faith communities at this single location.
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