The image of this post is the Triade Capitolina dell’Inviolata a precious roman sculpture showing the three main protectors of the city of Rome Jupiter, Juno (in the likeness of Iuno Regina) and Minerva. They were worshipped traditionally on a temple on the Capitolium, the so called aedes Iovis Optimi Maximi Capitolini. This sculpture was discovered in private villa, and it’s believed to be a copy the original sculpture located in that temple, so you can easily understand its importance. I will not go on details, there is a lot material you can find on the triad and on this particular sculpture, I will tell you more about its discovery. Unfortunately, the discovery of this masterpiece was done, in 1992, during an illegal dig near Rome in an area ironically called “inviolata” (Untouched), that was a well known playground for illegal diggers. The sculpture was sold to a Swiss art merchant for a sum equivalent to 2 millions euros, and was ready to be resold to an American collector (...