An imposing life-size Ancient Roman statue of Hercules found on the Appian Way will soon be on display in the Parco Appia Antica.
The life-size statue of Hercules found during recent sewer work on the Appian Way in Rome will shortly be visible to the public. The Parco Appia Antica is open from Tuesday to Sunday and also, for free, on Liberation Day on April 25, officials said Monday.
The statue depicts a Roman emperor as the Greek hero Hercules. It was discovered near the Appian Way, ancient Rome’s first highway in January during a sewer repair project. The statue’s face emerged as a bulldozer was tearing through old pipelines.
Archaeologists believe the statue might be Emperor Decius, who ruled Rome from 249 CE to 251 CE. Decius was the first Roman emperor to be killed in battle by a foreign enemy. He died while fighting against the Visigoths in present-day Bulgaria. He was also responsible for the first organised execution of Christians.
Grand Villa of Quintilii
Meanwhile the Grand Villa of the Quintilii, in the same park, has become prominent again with the publication in the journal Antiquity of an article by British School archaeologist Emlyn Dodd. Also an expert in ancient wine production, Dodd’s research outlines the wine produced in the villa and the role the drink had in showing off the glories of the building.
The Villa of the Qunitilii, Dodd writes, “was an incredible mini city complete with a cellar for the emperor himself (Commodus) to slake his Bacchic tendencies”.
The villa boasts what Dodd calls a “magnificent” and unique wine fountain.
