VILLA GIULIA, MUSEO NAZIONALE DI

(Italian: National Museum of Villa Giulia), museum in Rome principally devoted to antiquities of the pre-Roman period from ancient Umbria, Latium, and southern Etruria. It is housed in the Villa Giulia, or Villa di Papa Giulio (Pope Julius), which was built in the mid-16th century for Pope Julius III. The museum has been housed in the villa since 1889. Celebrated sculptures include the painted terracotta Apollo and Hercules from Formello (Veii), excavated in 1916 and 1939, considered to be among the best examples of late 6th- or early 5th-century BC Etruscan sculptures. There is a fine terracotta sarcophagus showing male and female figures feasting, a rare example from the necropolis at Caere. Many artifacts such as vases, bronzes, armour, mirrors, and votive statuettes are among the treasures of the collection. The fine collection of Greek vases includes the famous Chigi vase, found at Veii, a fine example of Proto-Corinthian vase painting dating from the first half of the 6th century BC. The Castellani Collection comprises Greek vases.