In Tuscany, in central Italy, 24 very well-preserved Roman bronze statues were discovered. The objects are dated even to the 2nd century BCE.
The discovery was made in San Casciano dei Bagni. Among the finds are images of Hygieia, the goddess of health with a snake coiled around her shoulder, Apollo, other deities and emperors.
Researchers report that the statues were offered as votive gifts to deities, along with coins and other artefacts, as part of a religious rite. The item has inscriptions written in Etruscan or Latin. Discovered artefacts were deposited in ancient thermal waters so that they would never be discovered.
The ancient baths in San Casciano dei Bagni were in operation from 3rd BCE until the 5th century CE.
