Hercules and Mars at the Vatican Museums.

The statue of Hercules, II century AD, was found under the courtyard of Pio Righetti palace, near Campo de’ Fiori in Biscione street. It was covered by a travertine slab that testifies how it had been struck by a lightning. In the Roman times it decorated the Temple of Venus by the Theatre of Pompeo and once hit, as usual among the Romans, was buried.

Since it remained undeground for centuries it was not melted down to reuse the precious meaterial and we see this impressive artwork in the Pio Clementino Museum It is known as Hercules Mastai, from the last name of the Pope, Pius IX, that was in charge when the bronze was discoverd.

The Mars from Todi (V century BC), exposed in the Gregorian Etruscan Museum, has a similar story. He is a soldier that was leaning on a lance before the battle. The inscription on the harmour records the name of the man which commisioned the statue itself as a votive one.

It was discovered, in the XIX century, in the city of Todi buried under travertine slabs which make us belive that was struck by a lightning as Hercules.