- Margherita Gilda Scarpellini –
According to Colonna,^15 the statue known as the Arringatore originated in Arezzo in
the early second century bc, as an ex voto dedicated to the god Tece Sans. Also in Arezzo, in
1541 the statue of Minerva was found in a well near the church of S. Lorenzo. Considered
a cult statue, it was previously regarded as a Roman copy of a Greek original, dated to
the mid-fourth century bc but, after a detailed scientifi c analysis and careful restoration,
it is now dated to the early part of the third century bc and was the product of an “Italic”
workshop, hence perhaps Arretine (Figure 57.5).^16
The series of remarkable examples discussed above confi rm the considerable ability
in metallurgy that can be attributed to Arezzo, an Etruscan lucumony, known not only
for its production of weapons (Livy 28.45.16–17)^17 but also, since the sixth century bc,
for its production of large and small statues thanks to the presence of specialized artisans
as well as mineral resources (copper and iron) at nearby Monti Rognosi and Staggiano
(perhaps tin), of abundant water (Arno, Chiana, Tiber) and wood (forests in Casentino);
all elements necessary for the production of metals. Such testimonies, even though they
may be indirect, are clearly clues that allow us to speculate on the presence of local
workshops, in addition to the many discoveries in the city of Arezzo and surroundings
of votive deposits, isolated and sporadic bronze statuettes linked with the sacred areas
of Valdichiana, of Casentino, and of Valtiberina. Furthermore, we should consider the
fact that in the museums of Volterra and Arezzo as well as in the collections of the
seventeenth–eighteenth centuries of these two centers, there are a large number of bronzes
for which the two cities are the undisputed places of production.^18
Undoubtedly, the Valdichiana together with the city of Arezzo exhibit the largest
number of bronzes from the Archaic period to the late Hellenistic within the territory.
Recent discoveries of votive bronzes of the Hellenistic period include fi nds from the
temple at Castiglion Fiorentino (Figs. 57.6a, 57.6b),^19 at the small rural sanctuary at
Figure 57.5 Minerva from Arezzo after the recent restoration. Florence, Museo Archeologico
Nazionale. Inv. no. 2 (after Cygielman 2008, Fig. 1).