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13:28 GMT, Tuesday, 26 August 2008 14:28 UK

In pictures: Giant Roman statues

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A colossal marble head of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius has been discovered lying face down in rubble filling a bath house in the ancient city of Sagalassos in Turkey.

Excavations at Sagalassos (SARP)

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Sagalassos, situated in the mountains of south-central Turkey, was once a thriving urban centre. But devastating earthquakes in the 6th and 7th centuries forced the site to be abandoned.

Marble head of Marcus Aurelius (SARP)

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Marcus Aurelius spent much of his reign, from 161AD-180AD, fighting Germanic tribes along the Danube. But he is also remembered as one of the foremost Stoic philosophers.

Marc Waelkens and legs of Marcus Aurelius (SARP)

Marc Waelkens and legs of Marcus Aurelius (SARP)

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Project leader Professor Marc Waelkens stands by the lower legs of the Marcus Aurelius statue, giving an idea of the sculpture's colossal scale.

Foot of Marcus Aurelius statue (SARP)

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The emperor wore exquisitely carved army boots covered with a lion skin and decorated with tendrils and shields.

Right arm and hand of Marcus Aurelius statue (SARP)

Right arm and hand of Marcus Aurelius statue (SARP)

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The 1.5m-long (5ft-long) right arm and hand is cupping a broken globe, which was probably once crowned by a gilded bronze "Victory" figure.

Colossal marble head of Hadrian (SARP)

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In 2007, a statue of the emperor Hadrian was also found in the bath house. Archaeologists think statues of three emperors, along with their wives, adorned niches in the room.

Faustina the Elder (SARP)

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The marble head of Faustina the Elder - wife of the emperor Antoninus Pius - was found in August 2008. All images courtesy of Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project.

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Related to this story:
Huge statue of Roman ruler found (25 Aug 08 | Science/Nature )
Head of Roman empress unearthed (14 Aug 08 | Science/Nature )
Hadrian sculpture to go on show (20 Jul 08 | Entertainment )
Giant statue of Hadrian unearthed (09 Aug 07 | Science/Nature )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Sagalassos Excavation
Sagalassos Interactive Dig
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