The Etruscan Chimera of Arezzo

The bronze Chimera of Arezzo is one of the best known examples of the art of the Etruscans. It was found in Arezzo, an ancient Etruscan and Roman city in Tuscany, in 1553 and was quickly claimed for the collection of the Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I, who placed it publicly in the Palazzo Vecchio, and placed the smaller bronzes from the trove in his own studiolo at Palazzo Pitti, where "the Duke took great pleasure in cleaning them by himself, with some goldsmith's tools" Benvenuto Cellini reported in his autobiography. The Chimera is still conserved in Florence, now in the archaeological museum. It is approximately 80 cm (32") in height. Image File history File links ru:: Химера из Ареццо - Этрусская скульптура из бронзы en:: Chimera from Arecco - Etruscan bronze sculpture de:: Chimäre aus Arecco - Etruskische Skulptur aus Bronze File links The following pages link to this file: Chimera (creature) ... Image File history File links ru:: Химера из Ареццо - Этрусская скульптура из бронзы en:: Chimera from Arecco - Etruscan bronze sculpture de:: Chimäre aus Arecco - Etruskische Skulptur aus Bronze File links The following pages link to this file: Chimera (creature) ... The Etruscan civilization existed in Etruria and the Po valley in the northern part of what is now Italy, prior to the formation of the Roman Republic. ... Church of Santa Maria della Pieve Arezzo is an old city in central Italy, capital of the province of the same name, located in Tuscany. ... Tuscany (Italian Toscana) is a region in central Italy, bordering on Latium to the south, Umbria and Marche to the east, Emilia-Romagna and Liguria to the north, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. ... The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ... Unofficial Medici Rulers of Florence, 1434_1531 Cosimo de Medici 1434_1464 Piero I de Medici 1464-1469 (The Gouty) Lorenzo I de Medici 1469-1492 (The Magnificent) Giuliano de Medici 1469-1478 Piero II de Medici 1492-1494 Republic restored 1494-1512 Cardinal Giovanni de Medici 1512_1513 Lorenzo II de Medici... Cosimo I de Medici in Armour by Agnolo Bronzino Cosimo I de Medici (June 12, 1519 – April 21, 1574) was the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1537 to 1574, during the waning days of the Renaissance. ... Palazzo Vecchio The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, Italy. ... Early, tinted 20th-century photograph of the Palazzo Pitti, then still known as La Residenza Reale following the residency of King Emmanuel II between 1865–71, when Florence was the capital of Italy. ... Gold Salt cellar by Cellini Benvenuto Cellini (November 3, 1500 – February 13, 1571) was an Italian goldsmith, painter, sculptor, soldier and musician of the Renaissance. ... Founded 59 BC as Florentia Region Tuscany Mayor Leonardo Domenici (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  102 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 356,000 almost 500,000 3,453/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Latitude Longitude 43°47 N 11°15 E www. ...

In Greek mythology the monstruous Chimera ravaged its homeland, Lycia, until it was slain by Bellerophon. This bronze was at first identified as a lion by its discoverers in Arezzo, for its tail, which would have taken the form of a serpent, is missing. It was soon recognized as representing the chimera of myth and in fact, among smaller bronze pieces and fragments brought to Florence, a section of the tail was soon recovered, according to Giorgio Vasari. The present bronze tail is an 18th-century restoration. Greek mythology consists of an extensive collection of narratives detailing the lives and adventures of a wide variety of gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, which were first envisioned and disseminated in an oral-poetic tradition. ... Chimera from Arezzo. ... Lycia is a region on the southern coast of Turkey. ... Bellerophon killing Chimera Bellerophon (bearing darts) was a hero from Greek mythology whose greatest feat was to kill the Chimera, a monster usually depicted as with a lions head, a goats body, and a serpent-tail. ... Giorgio Vasaris selfportrait Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari (Arezzo, Tuscany July 3, 1511 - Florence, June 27, 1574) was an Italian painter and architect, mainly known for his famous biographies of Italian artists. ...

The Chimera was one of a hoard of bronzes that had been carefully buried for safety some time in Antiquity. They were come upon by accident, as trenches were being dug just outside the Porta San Laurentino in the city walls. A bronze replica now stands near the spot. For the software, see hoard memory allocator. ... Antiquity means different things: Generally it means ancient history, and may be used of any period before the Middle Ages. ...

Inscribed on its right foreleg is an inscription which has been variously read, but most recently is agreed to be TINSCVIL, showing that the bronze was a votive object dedicated to the supreme Etruscan god of day, Tin or Tinia. An icon of Aghia Paraskevi with votive offerings hung beside it. ... In Etruscan mythology, Tinia was the highest god of the skies, husband to Thalna or Uni. ...

See also

• Capitoline Wolf, an Etruscan bronze of the 4th century

Romulus and Remus, (771 BC¹- July 5, 717 BC Romulus) (771 BC- April 21, 753 BC Remus), the traditional founders of Rome, appeared in Roman mythology as the twin sons of the priestess Rhea Silvia, fathered by the god of war Mars. ...

Reference

• Ugo Bardi, 1997. "The Chimaera of Arezzo"