Art-Giambologna-Rape of the Sabines TB

This trackable is unusual. In the years 2010 to the present, collections of 100-400 travel bugs have been annually released in the United States (95%) and Europe (5%). This travel bug is part of the mere three percent of the 2010-14 collections that has been dropped off at least 25 times and has survived for at least five years.  As of 24 December 2017, this travel bug had been moved by 35 cachers and had lasted 6.1 years (2238 days). 

This and several other of my travel bugs are shamelessly being discovered at events (mostly in Europe) while actually moving elsewhere, or being missing for years.  The tracking numbers were placed on Pinterest and Facebook pages, and on at least two lists that are being taken from event to event.  I delete the discovery logs when I see them, to eliminate confusion among cachers who are actually holding the bugs.  I was once scolde  Some people just cheat at everything.

Please drop this item in rural OR Premium Member Only caches.  Do not place it in an urban cache or abandon it at a caching event.  Transport the bug in the original plastic bag for as long as the bag lasts; the bag keeps the trackable clean, protects the number and prevents tangling with other items.  Otherwise, take the travel bug anywhere you wish.  No permission is needed to leave the U.S.

Travel bug photos are appreciated and will be re-posted here.

This is one of a series of travel bugs made to recognize art seen, and admired by the bug owner.  A digital copy of this work was downloaded from the internet. The copy was reduced in size and proportions cropped to accommodate the laminating materials available to the owner.  Regrettably these processes diminish the effort of the artist.  One truly must see the original in person to fully appreciate the work.  The text below is a mixture of my own observations and material gleaned from the internet (mostly Wikipedia and Web Gallery).

Giambologna (Giovanni da Bologna, Jean Boulogne) was a Flemish-born Italian sculptor. He was the greatest sculptor of the age of Mannerism and for about two centuries after his death his reputation was second only to that of Michelangelo.  In about 1550 he went to Italy to study and spent 2 years in Rome. On the way back he stopped in Florence and was based there for the rest of his life.
 
The Rape of the Sabine Women is an episode in the legendary history of Rome in which the first generation of Roman men acquired wives for themselves from the neighboring Sabine families. The English word "rape" is a conventional translation of Latin raptio, which in this context means "abduction" rather than its prevalent modern meaning of sexual violation.
 
The Rape is supposed to have occurred in the early history of Rome, shortly after its founding by Romulus and his mostly male followers.  Seeking wives in order to found families, the Romans negotiated unsuccessfully with the Sabines, who populated the area.  Fearing the emergence of a rival society, the Sabines refused to allow their women to marry the Romans.  Consequently, the Romans planned to abduct Sabine women.  Romulus proclaimed a festival among.  Many people from Rome's neighbours attended, including folk from the Caeninenses, Crustumini, and Antemnates, and many of the Sabines.  At the festival Romulus gave a signal, at which the Romans grabbed the Sabine women and fought off the Sabine men.  The indignant abductees were soon implored by Romulus to accept Roman husbands.
 
According to legend no sexual assault took place.  On the contrary, Romulus offered them free choice and promised civic and property rights to women.  Romulus spoke to them each in person, "and pointed out to them that it was all owing to the pride of their parents in denying the right of intermarriage to their neighbours. They would live in honorable wedlock, and share all their property and civil rights, and--dearest of all to human nature--would be the mothers of free men."
 
The Loggia dei Lanzi, also called the Loggia della Signoria, shelters this and one other piece of statuary for which I have made travel bugs.  The Loggia is a building on a corner of the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, Italy, adjoining the Uffizi Gallery.