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Coming To The Surface
It's fascinating how objects buried for hundreds of years are surfacing all over Europe, a constant reminder of how our shared history has a habit of nudging into the present. Earlier this month, a massive head of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius was uncovered during excavations in the ancient city of Sagalassos in Turkey.
The original marble stood 4.5m high; the head, along with an arm and lower leg, were found in the ruins of an ancient bath house in the city. The dig at Sagalassos has been very productive. A year ago in the same spot, archaeologists also uncovered a giant statue of the Emperor Hadrian. The head of the figure is the centrepiece of the British Museum exhibition on Hadrian's life and times, which continues in London until October.
The head of a Roman Empress, thought to be Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius was discovered at the same time as Marcus Aurelius' head was found.
Clearly, the timing is fascinating. Marcus Aurelius (121-180), as one of the "five good Emperors", is still revered. A reissue of his Meditations was a publishing success in Europe a couple of years ago. As for Hadrien, few European historians can have missed the significance of a figure who ruled from Turkey to Britain: One nation desperate to have its European status affirmed, the other long-uneasy with its attachment to a latter-day European "Imperial" project. That a bust found in Turkey can be shipped to London for the celebration of an Emperor who had a particular impact on British history demonstrates the sheer scale of the Roman Empire, and draws attention to our shared European roots.
Also coming to the surface after many years in darkness are a number of ships lying beneath the water of the Thames. Britain's largest post-war salvage operation has found seven shipwrecks in the waters of London's river, the oldest of which dates back to to the seventeenth century.
HMS London lies at the bottom of the Thames Estuary near Southend. Charles III collected the warship from Sweden, but it was accidentally blown up and sank with the loss of 300 lives.
A series of Thames barges, as well as cargo ships and a pleasure-boat-turned-warship were also discovered during the survey, which was carried out for the London Port Authority as it deepens shipping channels into the capital.
