What are the Bronzi di Riace?
Q: What are the Bronzi di Riace?
A: The Bronzi di Riace (also known as the Riace Warriors) are two large monumental Greek bronze sculptures of nude bearded warriors.
Q: Who discovered them?
A: They were discovered by Stefano Mariottini on 16 August 1972 while he was scuba diving near Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Q: Where were they found?
A: They were found not far from shore at Riace Marina, a village near Porto Foricchio in the Ionian Sea.
Q: Why were they likely there?
A: It is probable that they were being transported from their original site in Greece to one in Rome and may have been in an ancient shipwreck or thrown overboard to lighten the load.
Q: What materials are used for certain features of the bronzes?
A: The eyes are made of bone and glass, the teeth are made of silver, and the lips and nipples are made of copper.
Q: Did they originally have any accessories?
A: Yes, it is believed that each warrior originally held spears and shields and one wore a helmet pushed up atop his head.
Q: Where can you view them today? A: The bronzes can be viewed at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria.
