PRINCELY TOMB FROM THE SABINE HILLS

The tomb of a rich man from the Sabine Hills near Rome bears witness to a powerful upper class who had themselves buried in splendour.

The main exhibit from the rich tomb is an impressive parade chariot with figure-decorated bronze panels, accompanied by numerous grave goods. The chariot would have been drawn by two horses, fitted with bridles adorned with figure-decorated bronze plates. Chariot, shield, weapons, banqueting equipment and incense burners of bronze show that the dead man was a warrior and clan chief. From Etruria and Latium, which stretched south west of the River Tiber, only a limited number of similar tombs are known. These must be attributed to prominent families who, from the latter half of the 8th century BC made themselves masters of ever increasing riches and power, some of which was acquired through trade.