César Retrouvé - Caesar Recovered
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César |
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Caesar |
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Not too long ago I wrote a blog about discoveries right beneath our noses. Now, there are huge discoveries from the waters of the Rhône river, just beneath the bridge crossing that takes us from La Burlande to the western quarter of Arles known as Trinquetaille. |
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These discoveries are part of a 10-year, archaeological expedition conducted at Arles by the Department of underwater archaeological research (DRASSM).
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Exceptional pieces (lifts between August and early October 2007): - A bust of Caesar. The marble bust is the oldest representation known today of the founder of the Roman city of Arles. Typical of the series of portraits of republican era (baldness, traits due to age), it probably dates from the founding of the Roman Arles in 46 BC. - A statue of Neptune in marble, nearly 1.80m (about 6ft) in height, dated from the first decade of 3 AD. - A bronze statue of a bearded man with hands tied (a slave? Marsyas). This piece, about 70 cm (2.3ft) high, is perhaps the Roman copy of a Hellenistic original. - A gilded bronze statue of Victory, about 70 cm high, appearing in half-relief, it was probably destined to decorate a wall of marble. Apart from two bronze statues, all the evidence discovered is marble, except a base supporting a lion that seems local limestone (perhaps from Beaucaire). Added to this, a Corinthian capital, limestone capital fragments with Acanthus leaves, two stelae, an altar, columns and many architectural fragments. A total of one hundred objects were taken out of turbulent waters of the Rhône. |
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| Researcher Giustiniani with Caesar; photo by C. Chary Le chercheur Giustiniani avec César; photo par C. Chary |
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| Victory / Victoire photo par François Lefebvre |
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Captive slave (front);
photo by François Lefebvre Guerrier captif; photo par François Lefebvre |
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We learned of this project over the France3 TV network’s “Des Racines & Des Ailes” (Roots and Wings). A fascinating, well-produced program, it went in depth into the restoration work performed by the Arles museum, the submarine and scuba search of the bottom of the Rhône, and the lifelong quest of Dr. Luc Long to discover antiquities in the waters of the Rhône off Arles. |
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Arles’ Théâtre Antique d’Arles. |
Neptune photo par |
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| Dr. Long has lived in Arles’ ancient center along the banks of the Rhône since his childhood. He dreamed of finding Roman antiquities even as a young boy. Today he has redrawn what was previously known of the Roman settlement and society that developed around Arles. These most recent discoveries suggest that Trinquetaille was home to Arles’ elite, living stylishly in villas around official buildings and monuments directly across the Rhône from the city port. The treasures of ancient Arles [or “Little Rome”, as it was called] have long been relocated to the Louvre Museum in Paris; more recently, the artifacts have been on world tours. These most recent discoveries shine a new light on Arles and its history from the seldom-excavated areas of Trinquetaille. It will certainly refocus worldwide attention on the history and Roman antiquities here in Arles. … and we are excited about being among the first to view these fabulous finds! |
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Captive slave (rear);
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Roman Coliseum in Arles
Arènes d’Arles |
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Other links on this subject:
Musée départemental de l’Arles antiques - MAPA.
France3 program Des-Racines-et-des-Ailes.
Found in River - Times Online
An Imperial Visit - ITER Newsline