WEAPONS FROM THE RIVER 

Rivers provide an indication of the richness of the settlements and the trade routes before the Romans laid out their web of roads.Elmo villanoviano in bronzo dal letto del Tanaro presso Asti (VIII secolo a.C.). Torino, Museo di Antichità. Sezione Territorio - Spada in bronzo dal letto del Tanaro presso Roddi (1200-1100 a.C.). Alba, Civico Museo “Federico Eusebio”. Sezione Archeologica

The sword and the helmet found respectively in the ancient river beds now occupied by Via Montebello and Corso Belgio illustrate the cultural significance of the fords of the Po and the Dora Riparia.

Their excellent state of preservation suggests that they were not lost or thrown into the river but deliberately buried in a dry section of the ford.

In Piedmont as in the whole of Europe, many weapons, usually free from any signs of their use, have been discovered in rivers and lakes. As symbols of the role of warriors, they are both luxury items, often imported, or prestige gifts, and votive offerings to the deceased or divinities in keeping with the widespread ancient belief in a link between deep waters and the underworld.

Indo-European myths often speak of wondrous weapons bestowed upon a hero by a benevolent goddess, to whom they were sometimes restored


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