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 REGGIO CALABRIA AND BRONZI DI RIACE - CALABRIA- SOUTH ITALY 
Reggio Calabria 
stands in a splendid seaside position at the right end of the "toe of Italy", 
Calabria, on the eastern coast of the "Strait of Messina", that opens in the 
Ionian Sea. This town has ancient origins and was born probably at the same time 
of the other "Calcidian" town, Messina, in Sicily. Thanks to it it's great 
position that put the town at the centre of the most important communication 
line of the time, Reggio became very prosperous and aristocratic. At the time of 
the Greek expansion in Italy, Reggio allied with the Romans for protection 
against the invaders and then became part of the Roman Empire.
 
 
  
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Today Reggio's National Museum hosts many remains of history and art, as well as 
archaeological collections of Basilicata and Calabria, but the real attraction are the "Bronzi di Riace".
Two human size statues made out of bronze. The reason why 
they were found at the bottom of the sea bed of "Riace" is unknown. 
The bronzes look human and divine at the same time, at the very close edge between 
reality and myth. They represent the Greek conception of heroism and beauty, the 
classical composure and dynamic vitality.
These elegant bronzes are wonderful works showing a very refined taste and 
consequently they date back most probably to one of the most flourishing periods 
of the Greek civilization and of the culture of the whole mankind, the 
representation of the human body is very expressive and realistic in many 
anatomical details. 
A question rises... who do they 
            represent? no one knows exactly which two characters they are supposed 
            to represent, neither the paternity or origin, but surely they were 
            warriors armed with lances and shields.
                  
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