@ancienteyesodyssey: One of the most remarkable surviving masterpieces of ancient Rome, and one of my personal favorites in the Capitoline Museums. Dating to the 2nd century AD, this magnificent bronze statue depicts the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher emperor and author of Meditations. Likely erected around AD 176, it is the only surviving monumental bronze equestrian statue of a Roman emperor from antiquity. Its survival is extraordinary. During the Middle Ages, it was mistakenly identified as the Emperor Constantine, an association that likely spared it from being melted down for its valuable bronze, a fate suffered by countless other ancient sculptures. Originally covered in gold, traces of its gilding remain visible today. Its original location is unknown, but by the Middle Ages it stood at the Lateran before being moved to the Capitoline Hill in 1538, where it became the centerpiece of Michelangelo's magnificent Piazza del Campidoglio. Today, a replica stands in the piazza, while the original is preserved inside the Capitoline Museums, an extraordinary testament to the artistry and legacy of imperial Rome. 🎥 If you'd like to discover more about the Capitoline Museums and ancient Rome, check out our three-part series, Exploring Ancient Rome: The Eternal City, now available on YouTube. 🔗 Link in bio! 🏛️ And if you'd like to explore the ancient world with us in person, join @Dillon and me on our journey through ancient Greece in May 2027. 🔗 More details in the link in bio! #MarcusAurelius #AncientRome #RomanHistory #rome #AncientHistory

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Thursday 08 October 2026 16:16:30 GMT