Riace bronzes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Riace Bronzes |
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| Year | 460-450 BC |
| Type | Bronze Sculptures |
| Location | Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, Reggio Calabria, Italy |
The Bronzi di Riace (English: Riace bronzes), also called the Riace Warriors, are two very old and large Greek bronze statues. They show two nude, bearded warriors. These statues were likely part of one big Greek artwork. It is thought they were being moved from Greece to Rome when they were lost.
The Amazing Riace Bronzes
The Riace Bronzes are two ancient Greek statues made of bronze. They are very famous and important. These statues were created a long, long time ago, between 460 and 430 BCE. That means they are over 2,400 years old! They show two strong warriors, standing tall and proud.
How They Were Found
The Riace Bronzes were found by accident on August 16, 1972. A man named Stefano Mariottini was scuba diving near Reggio Calabria, Italy. He was on vacation and exploring the Ionian Sea. Not far from the shore, he discovered these amazing statues lying on the seabed.
The area where they were found was a busy shipping route in ancient times. Ships often traveled between Greece and Rome here. It is believed the statues were on a ship that sank. They might have been thrown overboard to make the ship lighter during a storm. Or, the ship itself might have broken apart, sending the statues to the bottom of the sea.
What the Warriors Look Like
The Riace Bronzes are very detailed. The warriors are shown without clothes, like many ancient Greek statues. They have long, sculpted beards. Their eyes are made from special materials like bone and glass, which makes them look very real. Their teeth are even made of silver!
Long ago, these warriors held spears and shields. One warrior also wore a helmet pushed up on his head. These parts were probably made of different materials and have been lost over time. Today, you can see these incredible statues at the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia in Reggio Calabria, Italy. They are a true treasure from the ancient world.
