© Carole Raddato
Type: Variant of Stazione Termini type
Found in the River Thames near London Bridge (1834)
This head comes from a statue of Hadrian that probably stood in Roman London (Londinium) in a public space such as a forum. It would have been one and a quarter times life-size.
The statue may have been put up to commemorate Hadrian’s visit to Britain in AD 122; Hadrian travelled very extensively throughout the Empire, and imperial visits generally gave rise to programmes of rebuilding and beautification of cities. There are many known marble statues of him, but this example made in bronze is a rare survival.
T.W. Potter, Roman Britain, 2nd edition (London, The British Museum Press, 1997)
© Carole Raddato
