Lake of the Idols
Lake of the Idols is a lake located in Arezzo Province, Tuscany, Italy. It is located above sea level atop Monte Falterona, about 600 metres from the source of the river Arno. Situated near an ancient road linking Etruria with the Adriatic port cities of Romagna, it is known for one of the largest archaeological finds of the Etruscan civilization; over 600 bronze statuettes of Etruscan and Roman origin, along with thousands of other figurines from Cisalpine Gaul and Umbria, were discovered within the lake.
Name
The lake was originally known as Lago della Ciliegeta, named for the cherry groves that grew around the lake. The name Lago degli Idoli was applied after 1838 and refers to the Etruscan bronze statuettes found in the lake. Another name for the lake is Buca del Tesoro.History
According to Alfredo Bresciani, the lake formed approximately 6,000 years ago, based on radiocarbon dating and dendrochronology testing done on the lake.The lake was used in ancient times by the Etruscans. They viewed it as a "holy spring of the river-gods" because of the healing qualities of the water, which contains a high concentration of tannin. The Etruscans would throw bronze statuettes into the lake as a form of votive offering. These statuettes depicted typically people or animals. Some artifacts in the lake depicted body parts, such as heads, arms and legs, suggesting the healing power of the lake. Other artifacts found at the lake were coins, and fragments of arrow bits and pottery. It is believed that the lake was popular among soldiers based on the number of arrow fragments, and more importantly, the number of statuettes found depicting Hercle, the Etruscan version of Greek divine hero, Heracles. Artifacts found at the lake are dated between mid-6th to late-4th centuries BCE.