(ORDO NEWS) — A marble statue was found in Rome during the repair of rain sewers. Work was going on near the Appian Way.
A bulldozer was digging out hundred-year-old pipes, and suddenly the head of the sculpture appeared from the ground. The archaeologist observing the process immediately stopped the work.
Francesca Romana Paolillo, archaeologist say:
“I knew right away that the statue was of a man dressed as Hercules.”
The statue was damaged, but it shows the skin of a lion worn by Hercules. Also found nearby was the club of an ancient Greek hero.
Experts believe that the role of Hercules is depicted by the Roman emperor Decius Trajan. This is evidenced by the wrinkles on the forehead of the statue.
With a wrinkled forehead, this ruler is also depicted on a marble bust kept in the Capitoline Museum in Rome.
Francesca Romana Paolillo, archaeologist say:
“Since the character is depicted as a demigod, it means that the prototype must be sought among the most important personalities of the Roman state.
We have identified some similarities with the face of Emperor Decius Trajan, who reigned from 249 to 251 AD.”
Decius is infamous for being the first to organize the systematic persecution of Christians in ancient Rome. Under him, many bishops and their disciples were tortured to death.
The emperor dreamed of returning the former power to the Roman state, but he ruled for less than two years.
He was killed in battle with the tribes of the Goths and became the first Roman emperor to die in a war with an external enemy.
However, archaeologists have yet to confirm the correctness of their assumption. They will also determine the age of the statue and where it was made.
According to scientists, the sculpture was buried in the ground at the beginning of the last century, when there was no archaeological control yet.
Restorers will restore the marble sculpture, after which it will be put on display to the public.
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