talamone-frontone

Tempio di Talamonaccio

The Tempio di Talamonaccio is located on a hill just outside of Talamone.

Discovered in 1892-93, the temple was an incredible find for local archaeologists. They’d never seen a tufo rock temple like it, especially one that still had some of its white limestone decorations depicting myths and legends.

In 1913, archaeologists found the resting place of those who died in a 3rd century BC battle nearby, as well as terracotta fragments that date back to the 5th-4th century BC.

Today these, as well as what remains of the temple, can be seen at Orbetello’s archaeological museum.

The exhibition also displays what is, hands down, the most beautiful Etruscan work of art found in the Maremma – the Frontone di Talamone – the 2nd century terracotta relief that adorned Talamone’s temple.

Laboriously carved, the relief depicts the story of the Seven against Thebes – the fratricidal war between Eteocles and Polynices, sons of Oedipus and Jocasta.

On the relief, you can see a very expressive Adrastus moving away from the battlefield, a blind Oedipus among the bodies of his sons, Capaneus falling from a ladder as he tries to climb the walls of Thebes and Amphiaraus sinking into hell.