The bronze statues were discovered two weeks ago when archaeologists were excavating an ancient hot spring facility in what is now the village of San Casciano dei Bagni in Tuscany.

The Italian Ministry of Culture on November 8 said that the country’s archaeologists have discovered 24 bronze statues dating back to more than 2,000 years ago and in a well-preserved state hidden deep in the mud of a facility. Ancient hot mineral bath.

The statues unearthed here all date back to the 2nd century BC.

The statues unearthed here are all dated to the 2nd century BC. (Photo released by the Italian Ministry of Culture on November 8, 2022: AFP/VNA).

These statues were discovered two weeks ago, while archaeologists are excavating the ancient hot mineral bath facility in what is now the village of San Casciano dei Bagni in the Scandinavian region.

According to the Italian Ministry of Culture, the discovery could open new pages in the archaeological history of the “boot-shaped country”. The most notable of these statues is probably the statue of the goddess Hagieneia – the Roman goddess of health. There are also statues of famous gods and emperors of the Roman Empire.

Evaluating the statue of the goddess Hagieneia, Massimo Osanna – Director General of the Department of Museums under the Italian Ministry of Culture – said: “This is the most important discovery since the discovery of two bronze statues. ‘Riace warrior’ and certainly one of the most important bronze statues created in the history of the ancient Mediterranean world.”

According to Mr. Osanna, these artifacts will be on display at a special museum in a 500-year-old villa in the village of San Pasciano dei Bagni.

Jacopo Tabolli, an expert at the University of Siena in Tuscany, described the find as “a truly unique treasure” and would “rewrite history as the greatest collection of bronze statues in ancient Italy.” grand”.

One of the bronze statues discovered at the hot spring facility

One of the bronze statues was discovered at a hot mineral bath facility in the region of ​​Suscany, Italy (photo released by the Italian Ministry of Culture on November 8, 2022). (Photo: ĄFP/VNA).

The newly excavated statues date back to the 2nd century BC.

The newly unearthed statues date back to the 2nd century BC. (Photo: AFP/VNA).

The hot mineral baths in San Casciano dei Bagni were once a favorite place for emperors and high officials of the Roman era. These facilities operated for about 800 years starting in the 3rd century BC.

As a country rich in cultural and historical heritage, Italy currently has 58 world heritage sites recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).