An archaeologist presents a coin at the excavations of the Roman baths of San Casciano dei Bagni, near Siena, Tuscany, Italy EFE / EPA / Ministry of Cultural Heritage
In San Casciano dei Bagni in Tuscany, a small town in the province of Siena that still counts a lot on thermal tourism, for three years archaeologists have been involved in an excavation that has already made headlines with the discovery of a large basin, votive objects, altars dedicated to the gods, also a bas-relief with the image of a large bull.
Now, those digs in the ancient thermal baths of San Cascianoin central Italy, they allowed the discovery of a sacred treasure with thousands of Roman coins and votive figures “unique in the Mediterranean”, as archaeologists announced today.
For three years historians had been digging in the ancient baths of this town in the province of Siena, still today Today it is famous for its thermal waters and its spas.
The exploration first allowed the reconstruction of these baths, founded by the Etruscans and subsequently converted by the Romans into a monumental complex consecrated to leisure but also to the worship of the gods.
The archaeologist Jacopo Tabolli announced the discovery of a royal sculpture from a sanctuary that belonged to the Etruscans and restored by the ancient Romans. EFE / EPA / Ministry of Cultural Heritage
For this reason, a “sacred treasure” was found in its waters, made up of countless objects and offerings to the divinity, including about 3,000 coins in perfect condition because they did not enter circulationbut they were offered as soon as they were minted in Rome.
Some representations of the human body in bronze have also appeared that the ancient Romans dedicated to the gods to ask for the healing of some evil.
Among these objects appeared a leg, a penis and an earthe latter by a certain Aulo Nonnio who wanted to thank his recovery, as explained to the media by the expert from the University of Salerno (south), Giacomo Pardini.
For three years, archaeologists have been working on the ancient site in an excavation that had already made headlines for the discovery of a large basin, votive objects and altars dedicated to the gods, EFE / EPA / Ministry of Cultural Heritage
As well as a bronze womb from the end of the republican period of Rome, in the 1st century BC, already certainly used as an amulet for fertility.
The interim Minister of Culture, Dario Franceschini, defined the find as “truly exceptional” and promised the creation of an “exhibition venue” to house these remains, in statements to Ansa.
For his part, the archaeologist Jacopo Tabolli underlined that it is “a context without equal in Italy and in the ancient Mediterranean”.
A find in the excavations of the Roman baths of San Casciano dei Bagni, near Siena, Tuscany, Italy. Archaeologists have been working on this ancient site in an excavation for three years. EFE / EPA
The most important, Tabolli points out, is perhaps a surprising bronze uterus dating back to the years between the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire: “In Etruscan and then Roman sanctuaries dedicated to fertility it is common to find uteri in terracotta, in bronze are very rare ”, points out the professor.
«The findings have been continuous – he says -: from a bronze ear that a certain Aulus Nonio had dedicated to the gods to thank them for his recovery, to a leg and even a very rare penis, also made of bronze. Not counting the coins “.
EFE
Source: Clarin
