Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered fragments of a larger-than-life marble statue of famed Roman emperor Roman Emperor Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus believe to date back some 1,900 years.
The pieces were found in different locations during excavations of a parliament building on the site of the ancient city of Alabanda, in Turkey’s western Aydin province.
Experts believe the sculpture was brought to Alabanda in 120 AD in honor of a visit by Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, who was also known as Hadrian.
To date, six segments of the statue have been found—including parts of its head and body—and It’s believed that the intact figure stood more than eight feet tall.
Archaeologists are continuing to find the other parts of the statue, which will eventually be displayed at the Aydın Archaeology Museum.
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Alabanda, located on an area of about 1,235 acres in modern-day Çine, is believed to be one of the largest ancient cities in Anatolia, a large peninsula in Western Asia that consтιтutes the majority of modern-day Turkey.
During the reign of Hadrian, between 117 and 138 AD, Anatolia was under Roman control and the emperor is believed to have visited often.
‘We think that there is an inscription of honor next to this statue, which we think was made for the arrival of Hadrian,’ Umut Tuncer, Aydın Provincial Culture and Tourism Director, told Hurriyet Daily News.
Ali Yalçın, an archaeologist at Tavukçu Erzurum Atatürk University, began excavations in the region in 2015.
‘Last year, we accelerated the work in the billiardium [council building], which is one of the three important sections here,’ Tavukçu told the outlet.
‘This year we found fragments of the armored emperor statue, which we call ‘portrait sculpture.’
The parliament building where the fragments were located is one of the largest in Anatolia, according to Tuncer.
‘We care about exhibiting the artifacts on their site,’ he added. ‘When the statue is completed in the next few seasons, we will probably see many visitors here thanks to this statue, which is rare in the world.’
Hadrian’s reign started under a cloud, when leading senators who opposed his succession were put to death.
The Senate held him responsible and disapproved of his abandoning the expansionist policies of his predecessor, Trajan, in favor of shoring up borders and unifying the empire’s diverse peoples.
He is perhaps best known for building Hadrian’s Wall, which marked the northern limit of the Roman Empire, and rebuilding the Pantheon in Rome.
Hadrian also built the majestic Villa Adriana in Tivoli, whose ruins are now a UNESCO world heritage site, and ordered the construction of the Temple of Venus and Roma, the largest temple in ancient Rome.
Hadrian’s marriage to Vibia Sabina is considered loveless and bore no children. His pᴀssionate relationship with the Greek youth Antinous, though, led the emperor to establish a widespread cult in the young man’s honor when he was killed shortly before his 20th birthday.
