Sun 09 July 2023:
A beautiful white marble head that dates to the Augustan period has been found in Rome, the capital of Italy. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri used social media to share information about the historic artifact that is currently undergoing restoration.
Gualtieri tweeted a picture of the mud-covered head along with the caption, “#Roma continues to return precious evidence of its past: a splendid intact marble head was found during the works in Piazza Augusto Imperatore attended by the @Sovrintendenza.”
#Roma continua a restituire preziose testimonianze del suo passato: una splendida testa in marmo integra è stata ritrovata durante i lavori a Piazza Augusto Imperatore curati dalla @Sovrintendenza. Archeologi e restauratori sono impegnati nella pulitura e nello studio del reperto pic.twitter.com/9EAYIj4pRb
— Roberto Gualtieri (@gualtierieurope) July 6, 2023
Experts believe that the marble piece came from a statue of a female deity, possibly Aphrodite because of its natural sizes. Greek marble was used to create the head, which shows off excellent craftsmanship. A “taenia,” a ribbon knotted on top of the head, gives the marble head’s hair the appearance of being gathered at the back.
The marble head was found during the renovation of the “Mausoleum of Augustus and Piazza Augusto Imperatore” on the eastern side, according to the Sovrintendenza Capitolina (Capitoline Superintendence), which is in charge of managing, preserving, and enhancing the capital’s historic and archaeological heritage.
The workers found the head lying face down and protected by a clay bank on which the foundation of the wall rests.
Notably, reusing the sculptures, even of significant value was a common practice in the late Middle Ages which allowed, as in this case, “the successful preservation of important works of art”.
“The head is currently entrusted to restorers for cleaning, and to archaeologists for correct identification and an initial dating proposal, which appears to be anchored in the Augustan era,” concluded the Superintendent.
Following his victory at the Battle of Actium, the Roman Emperor Augustus constructed the Mausoleum of Augustus, which stands today. The building is round in shape, 90 meters in diameter, and 42 meters high. It was once topped with a massive bronze statue of Augustus on a conical roof.
“The find was found in the foundation of a late antique wall but is preserved intact; reused as building material it lay face down, protected by a clay bank on which the foundation of the wall rests,” read a statement released.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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