Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius statue found in Turkey

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

ANKARA (AFP) — Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered parts of an exquisite marble statue of the Roman emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius who ruled between 161 and 180 AD, a local official said Tuesday.

The remains of the statue of the last of the so-called "good emperors" and one of the most prominent Stoic philosophers was uncovered in a Roman-era bath in Salagassos in western Turkey by a team of Belgian and Turkish excavators.

The remains, including a large head of the emperor with his characteristic bulging eyes, as well as his right hand holding up a globe, were found last week, the curator of the Burdur Haciali Ekinci museum said.

According to experts the statue was about 4.5 metres (nearly 15 feet) high.

The lower legs of the statue...