Roman reliefs rescued from tomb raiders

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   Roman reliefs rescued from tomb raiders
�Incredible� marble scenes show gladiators from 1st century B.C.

Plinio Lepri / AP
Ancient Roman marble reliefs depicting gladiators in combat are presented to the press on Wednesday, after their recovery from the garden of a private home north of Rome.

By Ariel David

Updated: 4:28 p.m. ET Jan. 24, 2007

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ROME - Italian police have unearthed the hidden cache of a group of grave robbers, recovering ancient Roman marble reliefs depicting stunningly lifelike gladiators locked in mortal combat, officials said Wednesday.
The 12 panels were found buried in the garden of a private home near Fiano Romano, 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Rome, and officials hailed the recovery as a major archaeological find and a blow to the illegal antiquities market.
The reliefs date to the late 1st century B.C. and are believed to have decorated a tomb, still to be located, in the nearby Roman settlement of Lucus Feroniae, said Anna Maria Moretti, superintendent for antiquities in the area north of Rome.

The pieces, made of high-quality Carrara marble, are notable for their size and age, and are among the finest examples from the period depicting one of Rome�s favorite blood sports, Moretti said.
�The attention to detail is incredible,� she said at a presentation of the finds at Rome�s Villa Giulia museum.

The panels show bare-chested fighters armed with swords and shields and engaged in duels while surrounded by trumpet and horn players. In one of the most dramatic scenes, a gladiator steps on the wrist of a downed opponent who raises a finger in a plea for mercy.
The reliefs will be studied and restored before being shown to the public at Villa Giulia.
Prosecutor Paolo Ferri said a three-year investigation led police to the cache 10 days ago. No arrests have been made.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16790995/