DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0320
chap, xiviii.] MARITIME CHARACTER OF VETULONIA. 303
blish the identity of Vetulonia with this newly-discovered
city near Magliano.
The maritime character of Vetulonia is indeed esta-
blished by a monument discovered at Cervetri in 1840,
and now in the Lateran Museum. It is a bas-relief,
bearing the devices of three Etruscan cities—Tarquinii,
Yulci, and Vetulonia. The latter, which is indicated by
the inscription vetvlonenses, is symbolised by a naked
man with an oar on his shoulder, and holding a pine-cone,
which he seems to have just plucked from a tree over his
head. Dr. Braun, the learned secretary of the Archaeolo-
gical Institute of Rome, whose opinion is of great weight
in such matters, says : —" that this figure represents
Neptune, seems to me beyond a doubt; it is shown not
only by the attribute in his hand, but also by the tree,
sacred to that deity, which stands at his side. However it
be, no one can presume to deny that the figure bearing an
oar indicates a maritime city, such as Pliny in truth implies
Vetulonia to have been."5
We are quite in the dark as to the period and causes of
Vetulonia's destruction or abandonment. It may have
been malaria ; it may have been the sword which desolated
5 Ann. Inst. 1842, p. 38, tav. d'Agg. joined by the Cavalier Canina (Bull. Inst.
C. Another learned antiquary of Rome, 1840, p. 93), that this bas-relief formed
who agrees with me as to this being the one of the sides of a square pedestal,
site of Vetulonia, takes the figure with whose other three sides bore emblems of
an oar to represent Telamon, the Argo- other cities—the Twelve of the Etruscan
naut. Dr. Braun suggests, from a consi- Confederation ; and they think that as
deration of this monument, that there the relief was found near a statue of
was probably a pine-wood in the neigh- Claudius, the pedestal originally sup-
bourhood of Vetulonia. It so happens ported that statue, and that the Twelve
that there is such a wood extending for Cities of Etruria were symbolised there-
miles along the shore between Telamone on in compliment to that emperor having
and Orbetello, which may be the remains written a history of Etruria. To me,
of a forest yet more extensive in ancient however, the relief appears rather to
times. have formed part of a throne, for at one
Dr. Braun is of opinion, in which he is end it is decorated on both sides.
blish the identity of Vetulonia with this newly-discovered
city near Magliano.
The maritime character of Vetulonia is indeed esta-
blished by a monument discovered at Cervetri in 1840,
and now in the Lateran Museum. It is a bas-relief,
bearing the devices of three Etruscan cities—Tarquinii,
Yulci, and Vetulonia. The latter, which is indicated by
the inscription vetvlonenses, is symbolised by a naked
man with an oar on his shoulder, and holding a pine-cone,
which he seems to have just plucked from a tree over his
head. Dr. Braun, the learned secretary of the Archaeolo-
gical Institute of Rome, whose opinion is of great weight
in such matters, says : —" that this figure represents
Neptune, seems to me beyond a doubt; it is shown not
only by the attribute in his hand, but also by the tree,
sacred to that deity, which stands at his side. However it
be, no one can presume to deny that the figure bearing an
oar indicates a maritime city, such as Pliny in truth implies
Vetulonia to have been."5
We are quite in the dark as to the period and causes of
Vetulonia's destruction or abandonment. It may have
been malaria ; it may have been the sword which desolated
5 Ann. Inst. 1842, p. 38, tav. d'Agg. joined by the Cavalier Canina (Bull. Inst.
C. Another learned antiquary of Rome, 1840, p. 93), that this bas-relief formed
who agrees with me as to this being the one of the sides of a square pedestal,
site of Vetulonia, takes the figure with whose other three sides bore emblems of
an oar to represent Telamon, the Argo- other cities—the Twelve of the Etruscan
naut. Dr. Braun suggests, from a consi- Confederation ; and they think that as
deration of this monument, that there the relief was found near a statue of
was probably a pine-wood in the neigh- Claudius, the pedestal originally sup-
bourhood of Vetulonia. It so happens ported that statue, and that the Twelve
that there is such a wood extending for Cities of Etruria were symbolised there-
miles along the shore between Telamone on in compliment to that emperor having
and Orbetello, which may be the remains written a history of Etruria. To me,
of a forest yet more extensive in ancient however, the relief appears rather to
times. have formed part of a throne, for at one
Dr. Braun is of opinion, in which he is end it is decorated on both sides.