(ANSA) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 22 - Gold and silver cups, jewels, sophisticated grand parade weapons. But also many objects in precious ivory, rich bronze tools, chariots, even a royal throne entirely covered with bronze sheets.
Magnificent and gifts are once again visible to the public after more than eight years at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia the princely items from the tombs of Palestrina. And the new ultra-modern set-up, in the rooms of the adjacent Villa Poniatowski, gives credit to the richness of an archaeological heritage as precious as perhaps still little known to the general public.
Known as the Barberini Tomb and the Bernardini Tomb, the two extraordinary kits, among the richest ever excavated, with objects coming from Phenicia, Greece, Syria, both belong to the Orientalizing Period and date back more or less to the beginning of the 7th century BC. therefore about 2,700 years ago: "We are talking about princes, but perhaps they were kings - explains the director of the museum, Valentino Nizzo - certainly warriors, as also indicated by the beautiful swords".
Monarchs who in their burial, as he must have been alive, could be surrounded by "the best and most beautiful there was then available in the Mediterranean world.
What you see here is what was in the palaces of the grand monarchs of the time. "And so rich and powerful the princes of Palestrina must have become so by exercising with great ability the control of the territory, of the transit routes and of the resources linked to these lands and to these streets. So much so that they could then surround themselves with a splendor if possible even more exuberant than their Etruscan neighbors on the opposite bank of the Tiber. Both were discovered at the end of the 19th century, the two tombs have been included in the collection of the Etruscan Museum since the beginning of the 19th century. theft of Castellani jewels, it was decided to put them in shelter in 2013. The new display, with avant-garde display cases also for safety, made it possible to bring them back on display.Starting from Friday 24 September, Villa Poniatowski opens its doors again every Friday, until the end of October in the morning and in the afternoon, then only in the afternoon from 3 to 6 pm (ANSA).
