Workers working in the Roman sewer system on the Appian Way found a life-sized marble statue of Hercules in 2023. This statue is believed to represent Emperor Decius, thereby expanding our vista of Roman art and leadership.

One of the fascinating finds of the year 2023 has been this life-sized marble statue of Hercules. The details are as follows:

The Discovery

Location: The statue was rescued during the repair works being carried out under the Appian Way, which is an ancient Roman road, in Parco Scott, one of the parks in Rome.

Who Found It: Construction workers found the statue while responding to a collapse involving a century-old sewer pipeline. The excavation was overseen by archaeologists from the Parco Archeologico dell’Appia Antica.

Condition: The statue lay about 65 feet underground and was broken: one pole and two legs were broken. The spoiled base with feet has been recovered as well.

Description and Origins

Figure: The statue represents a person dressed as Hercules, with the lion skin headdress and club. However, the face is said not to be Hercules but to be Emperor Decius (249-251 CE).

Historical Context: Emperor Decius was known for his promotion of traditional Roman religious observances. The statue’s design may represent his allegiance to Greco-Roman gods during a time when Christianity was spread across the empire.

Dating: The statue was probably buried intentionally in the early 20th century, especially so during the time of the sewer construction work. The original position and purpose are going to be investigated further.

Importance

The discovery sheds light on Roman art, leadership, and religion. The religious practices show the important role of archaeological interventions in modern-day construction projects.

Critch & TC

Sources:

Construction Workers Discovered a Mysterious Statue of Hercules Buried Deep in a Roman Sewer

Ancient Hercules statue discovered hidden in Roman sewer system | The Standard

Ancient Statue of Emperor Dressed as Hercules Discovered During Roman Sewer Repairs | Smithsonian