Archaeologists unearth 1,900-year-old Roman Emperor statue under a Turkish fountain
Archaeologists working in Laodicea, an ancient Turkish city, have discovered an approximately 1,900-year-old statue of the Roman emperor Trajan.
Trajan was famed for ruling the Roman empire when it was at its greatest geographical extent.
The imposing three metre-tall,1,906-year-old statue was reconstructed from hundreds of pieces found clustered together beneath an ancient water fountain.
The statue features Trajan in full military regalia, including decorated body armor and a kilt-like chiton. An enemy soldier can be seen cowering behind the victorious emperor, who stands with his right arm aloft. The statue was completed in 113 AD, four years before his death.
An earthquake is likely to have caused the statue to shatter it into 356 pieces, but despite this, the reconstructed statue is in remarkably good condition.
According to Hurriyet Daily News, Trajan built a waterway in Laodicea, and he spent a substantial amount of money on infrastructure in the city and the statue is likely to have honoured this commitment.
