Archeological Collection of

Ugolino III Trinci,

Palazzo Trinci

Ugolino III Trinci began an important collection of Roman artefacts under the direction of the humanist Francesco da Fiano that was intended to give the impression that his family was of Roman descent.  Much of the collection was dispersed after the fall of the Trinci lords in 1439, but a few choice objects are still displayed in two rooms on the piano nobile of Palazzo Trinci.

Room before Sala dei Giganti

Relief of Amore and Psyche (ca. 150 AD)

This marble relief was originally on the right wall of the loggia on the piano nobile the palace.  A Latin inscription that was carved on the lower part of the relief in the early 15th century records that Ugolino III Trinci built the palace in the period 1389-1407. 

The relief represents a story from the Metamorphoses (2nd century AD) by Apuleius that involves Amore (Cupid) and the lovely Psyche.

Roman heads (probably 2nd century AD)

These heads are arranged to represent the seven ages of man.  They were placed originally on pediments below and between the arches of the loggia that the Trinci built in what is now called the Palazzetto del Podestà (see Walk I).

Sala dei Giganti 

Sarcophagus (3rd century AD)

The front of this sarcophagus depicts the games at the Circus of Maximus in Rome.  One of the protagonists is about to fall from his chariot, and this might depict the actual demise of the man who was buried in the sarcophagus.

Sarcophagus (3rd century AD)

The front of this small sarcophagus depicts a violent chariot race in which the contestants are naked winged putti.

Sarcophagus of a child (3rd century AD)

The lovely relief on the front of this sarcophagus shows the garlanded body of a baby being conducted to the next world in a procession of putti, some playing musical instruments.  There is a large lion’s head at each of the two front corners.

[Are the following exhibited with the collection?

Relief of Puer Apuliae (13th century)

This relief represents the Emperor Frederick II, who was known as  Puer Apuliae (Son of Puglia).  

Two reliefs of female heads (13th century)

These two heads, and three others that are known, might have come from the Palatium Imperium that the Emperor Frederick II built in Foligno in [1244].  ]

Return to the page on the piano nobile.