The statue of a youthful Apollo hunting a lizard is the latest treasure to emerge during excavations in the Tuscan thermal spa town of San Casciano dei Bagni. Some parts of the statue such as the hands and parts of the head have yet to be found.
The nearly two-meter-tall marble copy of a bronze original by famed Greek sculptor Praxiteles was discovered in the mud beneath the thermal springs, archaeologists said. Several specimens of bronze lizards have already been found in the baths of San Casciano. In November 2022, excavations in the same area discovered a votive collection of 24 fully preserved bronze statues, five of which are almost one meter high.
Thousands of coins and votive offerings discovered
They date from the period between the second century BC and the first century AD. Thousands of coins and votive offerings were also discovered in remains of sacred Etruscan and Roman baths dating back more than 2,300 years.
“The excavations at San Casciano continue to amaze us,” said the Ministry of Culture’s Director General of Archeology, Luigi La Rocca, commenting on the new find to the Italian news agency ANSA. A small religious building built around the spring and bath was also discovered in the area.
Place restored the old thermal baths
The remains of the Etruscan thermal baths were discovered in the municipality of San Casciano with about 1,600 inhabitants, which is still famous today for its thermal baths. The municipality has restored the thermal baths that were also visited by the ruling Tuscan Medici family in the 16th century. The excavation work is currently continuing.
Source: Krone
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