Warrior of Capestrano

The Warrior of Capestrano is a tall limestone statue of a Picene warrior dated to around 6th century BC. The statue stands at around 2.09 m. It was discovered accidentally in 1934 by a labourer ploughing the field in the Italian town of Capestrano. The statue has traces of pink paint and features a hat with a huge brim and a disk-type armor (kardiophylax) protecting the chest and back. The warrior bears a short sword, knife and axe. He has also a defensive device known to the Greeks as mitra (a short apron covering the back), a wide belt, necklace and armlets.

A South Picene inscription incised on the pillar standing to the right of the warrior reads: "Makupri koram opsút aninis rakinevíi pomp[úne]í" ("Aninis had this statue made most excellently for Rakinewis, the Pomp[onian]").

The subsequent investigation showed that the vineyard where the statue was found was situated above an Iron Age cemetery. Together with the warrior, a female statue in civilian attire was found at the same site, the so-called Lady of Capestrano.