Bagno Grande Sanctuary, San Casciano dei Bagni
Santuario del Bagno Grande
Italy · Tuscany
In brief
Bagno Grande is an Etruscan and Roman sanctuary that developed around a hot spring. Water and mud preserved bronze offerings and some organic remains.
What was found?
- 1Bronze votive statues
These are human figures preserved in the water and mud of the thermal pool. The preservation of their find contexts makes it possible to investigate how the statues were offered at the sanctuary.
- 2Large bronze snake
A bearded and horned example measuring more than 90 cm was found in the 2024 excavation. According to researchers, it may represent the agathodaimon regarded as the spring's guardian spirit.
- 3Inscribed anatomical offerings
Offerings in the form of arms, heads, legs, and half-torsos were found. Etruscan and Latin inscriptions help identify the dedicators and the sacred beings they addressed.
- 4Republican- and Imperial-period coins
According to the ministry's 2024 announcement, more than 10.000 coins were found at the sanctuary. They document votive practices maintained in different periods.
- 5Votive eggs
Egg fragments and some whole examples were preserved in the mud. According to researchers, these offerings may be associated with rituals of rebirth and renewal.
What does it point to?
Bagno Grande was a sanctuary where the pursuit of health and religious practices came together around hot water. According to researchers, the finds show ritual continuity in the transition from the Etruscans to the Romans.
What did it teach us?
- Etruscan and Latin votive inscriptions were present in the same sanctuary.
- Offerings depicting body parts document religious practices associated with health.
- The thermal water and mud preserved organic offerings as well as bronzes.
Latest news / selected archive
The 2024 excavations found new bronze figures, a large bronze snake and eggs, some preserved whole.
Record
- Culture
- Etruscan and Roman
- First modern dig
- 2019
- Team / historical
- Jacopo Tabolli and Emanuele Mariotti; University for Foreigners of Siena and the Municipality of San Casciano dei Bagni
- Coordinates
- 42.8711°, 11.8720°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- La Marmotta Lakeshore Settlement 92 km
- Banditaccia Necropolis, Cerveteri 99 km
- Roman Forum 120 km
- Hadrian's Villa 127 km
- Ostia Antica 129 km
- Herculaneum 308 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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