The Persistence of The Statue of Marcus Aurelius
Title
The Persistence of The Statue of Marcus Aurelius
Subject
Cola’s Rome
Description
The statue of Marcus Aurelius now rests on the hilltop of Piazza Campidoglio. While the original statue is inside of the Capitoline museum, a replica of the statue stands at the center of Piazza Campidoglio. The statue is the only surviving statue of the 22 equestrian statues of ancient Rome. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius built the statue likely towards the end of his reign from 161-180 AD. He was revered for his efforts to fend off barbarian and Persian invasions, and built the statue as a reflection of his military prowess. However, the statue and legacy of Marcus Aurelius was close to being lost forever, due to the statue being moved, and being associated with many different names. The location of the statue’s origin is highly debated due to the different purposes it held throughout the Middle Ages, however it is known that the statue was located at the Lateran Hill as early as the 10th century.
During the 9th and 10th centuries its name underwent a series of changes that caused the statue’s true historical origin to become lost for quite some time. It was first documented as a representation of Constantine in the 10th century, when it was given the name “The Horse of Constantine”. It was believed that the Senate dedicated the statue to Constantine, which in turn prevented it from being melted down as recyclable bronze. However, later historians found that this was actually not the case. In many medieval representations of Rome, depictions of the horse and rider were quite common, and was thus associated with Constantine by the populace. Furthermore, the name “The Horse of Constantine” is the same name given to the sculpture inside the Forum. The interchanging name of the two pieces has caused much confusion for modern day scholars, however it is noted in historical writings, like John Wright’s The Life of Cola Di Rienzo that the medieval idea that the statue of Marcus Aurelius being the statue of Constantine was a mistake, which allowed it to survive destruction. In the 16th century, Pope Paul III moved the statue from the Lateran Hill to Piazza Campidoglio to emphasize Campidoglio’s significance as the city’s historical center. In addition to the Pope’s work with the piece, he commissioned Michelangelo to design the base for the statue. Thus the statue of Marcus Aurelius still rests inside of the Museum at Piazza Campidoglio for private viewing, accompanied by a replica at the center of the Piazza.
During the 9th and 10th centuries its name underwent a series of changes that caused the statue’s true historical origin to become lost for quite some time. It was first documented as a representation of Constantine in the 10th century, when it was given the name “The Horse of Constantine”. It was believed that the Senate dedicated the statue to Constantine, which in turn prevented it from being melted down as recyclable bronze. However, later historians found that this was actually not the case. In many medieval representations of Rome, depictions of the horse and rider were quite common, and was thus associated with Constantine by the populace. Furthermore, the name “The Horse of Constantine” is the same name given to the sculpture inside the Forum. The interchanging name of the two pieces has caused much confusion for modern day scholars, however it is noted in historical writings, like John Wright’s The Life of Cola Di Rienzo that the medieval idea that the statue of Marcus Aurelius being the statue of Constantine was a mistake, which allowed it to survive destruction. In the 16th century, Pope Paul III moved the statue from the Lateran Hill to Piazza Campidoglio to emphasize Campidoglio’s significance as the city’s historical center. In addition to the Pope’s work with the piece, he commissioned Michelangelo to design the base for the statue. Thus the statue of Marcus Aurelius still rests inside of the Museum at Piazza Campidoglio for private viewing, accompanied by a replica at the center of the Piazza.
Abstract
The statue of Marcus Aurelius now rests on the hilltop of Piazza Campidoglio. While the original statue is inside of the Capitoline museum, a replica of the statue stands at the center of Piazza Campidoglio. The statue is the only surviving statue of the 22 equestrian statues of ancient Rome.
Creator
Michael Sanson (2017)
Source
Macadam, Alta, and A. B. Barber. Rome. London: Somerset, 2010.
Nichols, Francis Morgan, and Eileen Gardiner. The Marvels of Rome = Mirabilia Urbis Romae. New York: Italica Press, 1986.
Wright, John Henry. The Life of Cola Di Rienzo. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1975.
Identifier
marcusaureliusstatue_2015
Coverage
Spatial Coverage
Piazza del Campidoglio, 00186 Roma RM
Description
The statue of Marcus Aurelius now rests on the hilltop of Piazza Campidoglio. While the original statue is inside of the Capitoline museum, a replica of the statue stands at the center of Piazza Campidoglio. The statue is the only surviving statue of the 22 equestrian statues of ancient Rome. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius built the statue likely towards the end of his reign from 161-180 AD. He was revered for his efforts to fend off barbarian and Persian invasions, and built the statue as a reflection of his military prowess. However, the statue and legacy of Marcus Aurelius was close to being lost forever, due to the statue being moved, and being associated with many different names. The location of the statue’s origin is highly debated due to the different purposes it held throughout the Middle Ages, however it is known that the statue was located at the Lateran Hill as early as the 10th century.During the 9th and 10th centuries its name underwent a series of changes that caused the statue’s true historical origin to become lost for quite some time. It was first documented as a representation of Constantine in the 10th century, when it was given the name “The Horse of Constantine”. It was believed that the Senate dedicated the statue to Constantine, which in turn prevented it from being melted down as recyclable bronze. However, later historians found that this was actually not the case. In many medieval representations of Rome, depictions of the horse and rider were quite common, and was thus associated with Constantine by the populace. Furthermore, the name “The Horse of Constantine” is the same name given to the sculpture inside the Forum. The interchanging name of the two pieces has caused much confusion for modern day scholars, however it is noted in historical writings, like John Wright’s The Life of Cola Di Rienzo that the medieval idea that the statue of Marcus Aurelius being the statue of Constantine was a mistake, which allowed it to survive destruction. In the 16th century, Pope Paul III moved the statue from the Lateran Hill to Piazza Campidoglio to emphasize Campidoglio’s significance as the city’s historical center. In addition to the Pope’s work with the piece, he commissioned Michelangelo to design the base for the statue. Thus the statue of Marcus Aurelius still rests inside of the Museum at Piazza Campidoglio for private viewing, accompanied by a replica at the center of the Piazza.
Creator
Michael Sanson (2017)Coverage
900sSource
Macadam, Alta, and A. B. Barber. Rome. London: Somerset, 2010.
Nichols, Francis Morgan, and Eileen Gardiner. The Marvels of Rome = Mirabilia Urbis Romae. New York: Italica Press, 1986.
Wright, John Henry. The Life of Cola Di Rienzo. Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1975.