Visions of Etruscan myths and rites in Florence
The exhibition presents four entire painted slabs, dating back to the end of the 6th century B.C. and recovered in Cerveteri in 2019 by the Guardia di Finanza.
The slabs, probably produced to decorate the walls of a temple, depict mythological scenes. In particular:
• A slab depicts the duel between Achilles and Penthesilea. On the left the Greek hero, enclosed in heavy armour, takes shelter behind his shield and prepares to strike the queen of the Amazons, who rushes towards him brandishing a bloody sword.
• Another depicts a man brandishing a branch with golden leaves while chasing a woman with curly hair armed with a bow. The two figures could represent Apollo and Artemis with their respective divine attributes, or the virgin huntress Atalanta challenged to the race by her future husband Melanion, who won the race by dropping three golden apples to distract her.
• Another depicts the Judgment of Paris. The messenger of the gods Hermes, with colorful wings and holding a scepter, precedes Hera, the first of the three goddesses in the "competition" to choose the most beautiful among them. Originally the other two goddesses, Athena and Aphrodite, and the young Paris called to judge were depicted on two adjacent slabs, unfortunately lost.
• Finally, on the last slab is depicted a young priest with long hair who has just completed a divination rite by observing the birds with the lituum, the curved stick that he holds on his shoulder, and is communicating the will of the gods to his companion, who is hurrying by holding a twig with red fruits in his hand.
The slabs, probably produced to decorate the walls of a temple, depict mythological scenes. In particular:
• A slab depicts the duel between Achilles and Penthesilea. On the left the Greek hero, enclosed in heavy armour, takes shelter behind his shield and prepares to strike the queen of the Amazons, who rushes towards him brandishing a bloody sword.
• Another depicts a man brandishing a branch with golden leaves while chasing a woman with curly hair armed with a bow. The two figures could represent Apollo and Artemis with their respective divine attributes, or the virgin huntress Atalanta challenged to the race by her future husband Melanion, who won the race by dropping three golden apples to distract her.
• Another depicts the Judgment of Paris. The messenger of the gods Hermes, with colorful wings and holding a scepter, precedes Hera, the first of the three goddesses in the "competition" to choose the most beautiful among them. Originally the other two goddesses, Athena and Aphrodite, and the young Paris called to judge were depicted on two adjacent slabs, unfortunately lost.
• Finally, on the last slab is depicted a young priest with long hair who has just completed a divination rite by observing the birds with the lituum, the curved stick that he holds on his shoulder, and is communicating the will of the gods to his companion, who is hurrying by holding a twig with red fruits in his hand.
Information:
Access notes:
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Direct access from the ticket office and entry into the first available visit slot.
Last admission 45 minutes before closing.
Free admission every 1st Sunday of the month; priority access suspended.
Photo gallery