The World Health Day. A tiara of flowers for the “heroes of the cure”

On the World Health Day, the MArRC dedicates to the medical, nursing and health personnel involved in the Coronavirus emergency, that are the “heroes of the cure”, a gold foil diadem, that is decorated with five applied flowers, among the most beautiful and precious objects of the museum’s archaeological collection.

 The Museum thus participates in the “Flowers” social campaign coordinated by the central MiBACT Press Office for the day by the hashtag #WorldHealthDay.

The diadem dates back to the second half of the fourth Century BC. It comes from a male chamber tomb in S. Maria del Cedro in Marcellina (Cosenza), corresponding to the ancient center of Laos.

The flowers, with a double order of five rounded petals, had in the center a pistil made by a small button, that was fixed to the rosette by means of a clothespin with wide ends then riveted on the back side of the foil.

 The ribbed decoration is of an Italic matrix, while the technique of applying the rosettes is Greek, suggesting that it was a mixed, western production of an Italian context with Greek-oriental influences.

Its discovery in a male outfit suggests that it was an ornament that the owner wore for the symposia, the diners drank crowned during which. Among the other objects found, in fact, there was also a rich symposium service of Apulian vases and bells with red figures. The deceased was a warrior, since he was also equipped with a fine panoply, that is a complete armor consisting of helmet, armor, belts, greaves, spear and javelin.