Murlo cowboy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The “Murlo Cowboy” is a famous akroteria that is part of over a dozen Etruscan sculptures, discovered in the ruins of the Archaic Building at the excavation site at Murlo in the Province of Siena, Tuscany, Italy during the sixth century BCE.[1][2] On Etruscan buildings, statues of gods, heroes, and ancestors were often placed on the ridges of roofs to protect votive offerings. This protective concept dates back to Etruscan beliefs from the preceding Orientalizing Period.[3]
The Archaic Building was a colossal 61x 61-meter meeting complex, constructed at the beginning of the 6th century BCE, that was used for various purposes within Murlo.[4] The building was constructed using the remaining debris from a previous complex in the same location.[5] On top of the roof of this immense building sat numerous terracotta akroteria, including what is known today as the “Murlo Cowboy”.[6] It is believed that the building, and its statues, were destroyed at some point after 650 BCE.[7][8]
