Aulus Vibenna

Detail of a facsimile of a fresco in the François Tomb at Vulci coeval with the tomb's discovery, before the fading of the fresco. Aulus Vibenna is the warrior on the far right. Aulus Vibenna was an Etruscan nobleman from Vulci of the 6th century BC and the brother of Caelius Vibenna (Caile Vipina in Etruscan).

Biography

The historical existence of an Aulus Vibenna, citizen of Vulci, is confirmed by archaeological finds, including a cup found at the sanctuary of Portonaccio near Veii, a bucchero chalice (of which only the high cylindrical foot remains from the sanctuary of Portonaccio) from the period in which tradition places it (second quarter or middle of the 6th century BC) and which bears the dedicating inscription mini muluva[an]ece avile vipiienas, i.e. "Aulus Vibenna dedicated me". Aulus, with this gift, had wanted to honour the sanctuary of Veii, whose prestige was such that it attracted as worshipers not only prominent local personalities but also aristocrats from other large Etruscan cities.

Another later vase, a red-figured Etruscan cup preserved in the Rodin Museum in Paris, probably discovered in Vulci and dating from the fifth century BC, bears the Etruscan inscription Avles V(i)pinas naplan, i.e. "cup of Aulus Vibenna", which confirms the charisma of this figure, whose memory resurfaces a century later.

Aulus could have been present in Rome. Arnobius, referring to Fabius Pictor, alludes to the murder of Aulus (whose head would be the one found on the Capitol during excavations for the foundation of the temple of Jupiter), by a "slave of his brother" (Servius Tullius). The Capitol, a pseudo-etymology for which is caput Oli, is said to have taken its name Oli from Auli.

The Vibenna brothers also appear on an Etruscan mirror from Bolsena and on four cinerary urns from Chiusi.

It represents a battle scene showing Caelius, Aulus Vibenna and Mastarna (the Etruscan name of Servius Tullius) The fresco, together with the finding of the bucchero, which is coeval with the reign of Servius Tullius, suggests that the Vibenna brothers are historical figures, Etruscan military leaders who took part in the struggles for dominance over Rome, having the Tarquins as their adversaries It is not unlikely that Aulus, while being in the surroundings of Rome, decided to make an offer to the sanctuary of Veii, located very close to the city which he wanted to conquer.