The Archaeological Superintendence of Southern Etruria has undertaken a systematic study of the findings from the excavations in the locality “Portonaccio” in Veio, Rome and in particular at the site of the famous “Temple” where the arcoterial statue of the god Apollo was discovered in the early 20th century, dressed with a long kitone and advancing at a rapid pace. In 1992, the Archaeological Superintendence also proposed the “ideal reconstruction” of Apollo’s Temple and in 1999 the reconstruction of the Temple was the subject of a detailed maintenance intervention aimed at its preservation in the years to come. The main objective of this project is the re-evaluation of the very famous group of sculptures in polychrome terracotta representing Apollo, Latonia, Mercury and Heracles. These arcoterial statues from the end of the 6th century BC decorated the Temple and were placed on the top of the roof of this sacred building. The three statues of Apollo, Latonia and Heracles are bigger than life and they were recovered in 1916 in fragments and restored in the early 1920s. The statue of Apollo, the main figure of the decorative complex, was fortunately better preserved. These precious findings are now on exhibit at the National Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia in a special room set up especially for them. These clay statues will be put better under the spotlight in the Museum through a new project for a new exhibition set up with greater accessibility. This detailed two year project has begun through interventions on the statue of the god Apollo that is one of the most discussed, described and remembered of the World Cultural Patrimony list, the symbol of ancient art and the emblem of the cultural world of the Etruscans.

Tuccio Sante Guido