Etruscan Temple Discovered near Vetralla!

Since the days when Napoleon’s brother, Luciano Bonaparte, played tomb robber in Canino, northern Lazio’s Etruscan sites have been giving up precious artefacts including red and black-figure Attic vases and gold jewellery.
The recent unearthing of an important temple complex near Vetralla, 68 kms.north of Rome, is a further reminder that the Etruscans are still very much with us and that their imposing necropolis and monuments are a major reason for visiting the area.

The temple dedicated to goddess Demeter ( Vea for the Etruscans) had been a local tomb robber’s source of “cocci” until he unwisely tried to sell his “finds” in the nearby town of Montalto di Castro.
When the finance police trailed him back to Vetralla they were rewarded with the discovery of his unique “warehouse” –a huge mushroom shaped structure hidden away in the wooded area known locally as Bagno Sacro. The name and an old monastery nearby reflect the area’s use through history as a special, magic place.

    
The track leading down to the site is similar to other vie cave to be found throughout the area which is dappled with Etruscan sites such as Norchia, Castel d’Asso and Grotta Porcina.

Although not officially announced by the Sovrintendenza , the site will surely put Vetralla on the map as archaeologists continue to study the important finds.

The temple ‘s size ( estimated at 500 sqm), its decorative columns and the amount of terracotta ex voto representing uterus and phalli show the importance of the site. An almost life-sized terracotta statue of the goddess Demeter, rivalling the terracotta winged horses of Tarquinia, has been taken to Viterbo’s Etruscan Museum for safe keeping