Some time ago, I
wrote about a gold bust of Septimius
Severus discovered in Plotinopolis, some
The bust is not made of solid gold like Septimius Severus’ but is hammered from a single sheet of gold. The gold bust was retrieved from an ancient sewage pipe in 1939. It was probably hidden there during a Germanic invasion in the 3rd century AD.
Interestingly,
the discovery was made at Aventicum, modern Avenches, in
Aventicum, located between
The treasures of ancient Aventicum are kept in the Avenches Roman Museum occupying a medieval tower from the 12th century near the amphitheater.
This amphitheater from the early 2nd century AD could seat 16,000 spectators. It was partially built of stone, i.e., the walls, stairs, and central entrance, but the seating area was made of wood. When it fell into disuse in the 4th century, the building served as a stone quarry.
The gold bust of Marcus Aurelius was found under a temple situated at the center of a large courtyard framed with a Stoa on all sides. According to the available inscriptions, the temple was dedicated to Celtic gods as well as the ruling Roman emperor!
The museum holds an impressive collection of artifacts such as mosaics and friezes, but also portrait sculptures recovered from the sanctuaries and the public monuments.
A selection of artifacts, including the gold bust of Marcus Aurelius, is presently exhibited at the Getty Villa in Malibu, California till January 29, 2024.
[Both pictures are taken from the Getty Villa exhibition link]
No comments:
Post a Comment