A lifesize work of art was found during sewer rehabilitation; The Emperor appears disguised as Hercules
A lifesize marble statue was uncovered during rehabilitation and restoration work on a sewer pipe in Parco Scott, a green space in Italy’s Appia Antica Archaeological Park.
Archaeologists who analyzed the historical piece using iconographic comparisons believe that the figure depicted is the emperor Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Deciusbetter known as Decius Trajan. He was identified by the “fear lines” that can also be seen in official portraits and by distinctive features related to a thin beard, eyes, nose and lips.
Decius Trajan was Emperor of Rome in the brief period between AD 249 and 251, and it is not known exactly when the statue was made, as there is no stratigraphic data (i.e. layers of stone) to help estimate the statue’s age determine. The information comes from the Galileo magazine.
Hercules Cosplay
The statue was so intact that archaeologists were able to identify strange features, such as B. a lion’s skin covering the emperor’s head. That would be an allusion to the demigod Herculeswho has to complete 12 difficult tasks in GrecoRoman mythology, and one of them involves a lion.
In the first of the 12 worksHerculesHe was to face the Nemean lion, a huge beast with skin impenetrable to human weapons. Hercules He defeated the creature by strangling it with his own arms and then using his own claws to tear off the lion’s hide, using it as a protective cloak and the animal’s head as a helmet.
The statue was not found in its place of origin and was in a well 20 meters deep.Decius was not the first to participate Hercules and its strength. Other emperors, such as Practical and Maximiandid the same.