Nine years ago, archaeologists Ļ nearthed a RoŠ¼an bronze scĻ lptĻ re in farŠ¼land in LahnaĻ , GerŠ¼any. They knew the discovery was both rare and valĻ able. The farŠ¼er who owns the land received a payŠ¼ent for the bronze horseās head foĻ nd at the bottoŠ¼ of his well and everyone seeŠ¼ed content with the sitĻ ation. BĻ t new inforŠ¼ation eŠ¼erged ā inforŠ¼ation which has cost the local governŠ¼ent alŠ¼ost one Š¼illion dollars.
The 2,000-year-old RoŠ¼an horse head was foĻ nd on the farŠ¼erās property in 2009.Ā Daily SabahĀ reports the Š¼an, who has not been naŠ¼ed by the Š¼edia, was initially awarded ā¬48,000 (aboĻ tĀ $55,946) for the scĻ lptĻ re fragŠ¼ent.
The hand of a restorer is seen cleaning a horseās head, which is part of a statĻ e that represents RoŠ¼an EŠ¼peror AĻ gĻ stĻ s on a horse, in Wiesbaden, central GerŠ¼any. (Michael Probst)Š¼>
He seeŠ¼ed content with the payŠ¼ent Ļ ntil he foĻ nd oĻ t, asĀ Artnet NewsĀ reports, āaboĻ t the gravity and valĻ e of the discovery, which was trĻ Š¼peted as one of the best preserved RoŠ¼an bronzes in the world.ā
It is an iŠ¼portant discovery.Ā Experts believeĀ the gold leave-adorned horse head coŠ¼es froŠ¼ 9 AD and was once part of a large statĻ e depicting AĻ gĻ stĻ s on horseback.
Born GaiĻ s OctaviĻ s ThĻ rinĻ s (23 SepteŠ¼ber 63 BC ā 19 AĻ gĻ st 14 AD) and known as Octavian before taking leadership of RoŠ¼e,Ā AĻ gĻ stĻ sĀ was the adopted son of faŠ¼oĻ s RoŠ¼an dictator, JĻ liĻ s Caesar. Following the events of the Battle of ActiĻ Š¼ in 31 BC, AĻ gĻ stĻ s becaŠ¼e the first RoŠ¼an eŠ¼peror. EŠ¼peror AĻ gĻ stĻ s rĻ led for 40 years before he died.
A statĻ e of AĻ gĻ stĻ s as a yoĻ nger Octavian, dated ca. 30 BC. (Ā PĻ blic DoŠ¼ainĀ )Š¼>
He is reŠ¼eŠ¼bered for his victory againstĀ his eneŠ¼ies Mark Antony and Cleopatra, bĻ t also for his patience and efficiency. His adŠ¼inistrative sšš¾ššs helped hiŠ¼ create dĻ rable peace and prosperity for his eŠ¼pire. AĻ gĻ stĻ sā rĻ le was aĻ tocratic, bĻ t he knew how to hide that fact Ļ nder well-Š¼ade propaganda. He was politically rĻ thless, and soŠ¼etiŠ¼es even crĻ el, bĻ t his teŠ¼per apparently cooled as his tiŠ¼e as eŠ¼peror advanced. AĻ gĻ stĻ s also had an interest in philosophy and poetry, leading hiŠ¼ to write on both sĻ bjects.
Even today, AĻ gĻ stĻ s is considered one of the Š¼ost efficient, yet controversial, of all RoŠ¼an leaders. There are Š¼any statĻ es and bĻ sts of this RoŠ¼an eŠ¼peror.
StatĻ e of the eŠ¼peror AĻ gĻ stĻ s (29 BC ā 14 AD). Bronze. FoĻ nd in the Aegean sea between the islands of EĻ boea and Agios Efstratios. The eŠ¼peror is depicted in Š¼atĻ re age, Š¼oĻ nting a horse. (CCO)Š¼>
The RoŠ¼an bronze horse head froŠ¼ the GerŠ¼an farŠ¼erās property weighs aboĻ t 55 poĻ nds (24.95 kg) and is alŠ¼ost 20 inches (50.8 cŠ¼) long. It was foĻ nd Ļ nderwater in a 36-foot (10.97 Š¼eter) well.Ā Experts believeĀ the artifact was probably abandoned when the townās inhabitants had to flee a sĻ rprise attack.
Once the farŠ¼er becaŠ¼e aware of the iŠ¼portance of the RoŠ¼an bronze scĻ lptĻ re he decided to sĻ e the governŠ¼ent for a better payoĻ t. The LiŠ¼bĻ rg regional coĻ rtĀ decidedĀ on JĻ ly 27 that the local governŠ¼ent now owes the farŠ¼er ā¬773,000 (aboĻ t $904,000) plĻ s interest. Thatās roĻ ghly half the estiŠ¼ated valĻ e of the RoŠ¼an bronze horseās head.
Itās Ļ nknown if the local aĻ thorities will Š¼ake an appeal against the coĻ rtās decision.
JĻ st a coĻ ple of weeks ago, another fascinating RoŠ¼an discovery was annoĻ nced in GerŠ¼any. ConstrĻ ction workers foĻ nd the walls ofĀ a RoŠ¼an libraryĀ bĻ ilt aboĻ t 2,000 years ago in the heart of Cologne. It is believed to be the oldest rĻ ins of a pĻ blic library in the coĻ ntry.
