Sensational Ancient Roman Discovery Unveiled
German archaeologists have made a sensational discovery at a site near the town of Waldgirmes in the state of Hesse. A well-preserved bronze and gold-plated statue of a horse’s head along with other fragments was found in a former Roman well.
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- The horse's head was found in a former Roman well near Waldgirmes.
- (© picture-alliance/dpa)
"This bronze sculpture counts among the best pieces to have ever been found from the area of the former Roman empire," said Eva Kuehne-Hoermann, Hesse's minister for science, at the unveiling in Frankfurt on Thursday.
Experts believe the statue dates from about 3 or 4 BC. They are speculating that the original statue probably depicted the Roman Emperor Augustus on horseback. Statues of this kind and of this artistic quality were only afforded to persons of exceptional importance, which would make the former emperor a top candidate in that time period. Also, a plate on the horse’s head offers a clue: it depicts Mars the Roman god of war and Augustus is known to have regarded Mars as his personal protector.
Archaeologists have been digging at the site of the former Roman town since 1993 uncovering some 20,000 artifacts. The area surrounding the site is steeped in history. In A.D. 9, a Germanic tribal chief named Arminius inflicted a famous defeat over an invading Roman army, wiping out three legions, in what is known at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Archaeologists say that it is likely that German tribes broke up the statue and ritually disposed of the head in the well.
That symbolic act some 2000 years ago is now a good piece of luck for the archaeologists, as the horse’s head is superbly preserved. "Nowhere else is there a finding of this form or quality" Kuehne-Hoermann said.
This article was provided courtesy of Young Germany www.young.germany.de
