Vatican Museums

There is an interesting collection in the Museum of small bronzes of human figures, relative in most cases to the sphere of worship in the Etruscan and Italic environment. This statue portrays a haruspex, that is an Etruscan priest who interpreted the will of the gods by examining the liver of the animals sacrificed [cf. mirror with Calchas]. The clothing is characterized by the high headdress of skin or felt tied under the chin, because it was a bad omen if the hat of the priest fell during the ceremonies.