PAINTED TERRACOTTA SLAB WITH TWO DANCING YOUTHS, 520-500 BCE. MUSEO DELL'ARTE SALVATA This is one of two terracotta slabs recovered from tomb thefts in the necropoleis of Cerveteri, dating from around the time of the foundation of the Roman Republic. These slabs would have decorated the external walls of houses in Cisra, Etruscan Caere, with scenes of festivity or victorious warriors, and would later be brought into the family tomb as wall decoration. These two young men, wearing vine-leaf wreaths around their hats and loincloths that leave only the essentials to the imagination, are dancing in a Dionysiac procession. I can't explain the footwear.

"Zephyr, in the sky at night, I wonder..." This ancient #Dionysiac hymn was certainly sung during #Etruscan #Bacchanals like the one partially represented on this #terracotta slab now repatriated to #Rome and probably destined for the National #EtruscanMuseum at #Cerveteri. #AncientBluesky 🏺