Gilded statue of Roman emperor once stood in the Scottish Borders, research suggests
A bronze leg found near Hawick in 1820 is now thought to come from a statue of Antoninus Pius that stood locally. A replica goes on show at the National Museum of Scotland this weekend.
The National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, Edinburgh, where a replica of the statue goes on show this weekend. · Photograph: David Dixon (CC BY-SA 2.0)
A huge gilded statue of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius once stood in the Scottish Borders, new research suggests.
A surviving gilded bronze leg has been built into a replica of the statue, which goes on show in a major exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh this weekend, STV News reports.
What was found near Hawick?
A gilded bronze lower leg, with its foot in a boot, was discovered in a bog at Milsington near Hawick in 1820. It dates to the 140s AD, during the reign of Antoninus Pius, the emperor who ordered the building of the Antonine Wall across central Scotland.
Why do researchers think the statue stood in Scotland?
A wider study of statue fragments from the Roman frontier found that bronze imperial statues were put up in frontier forts. That makes it possible the statue stood locally, rather than being looted and carried north from a major Roman town such as York (Eboracum), as had been assumed for more than 200 years.
Where can I see it?
The original leg has been incorporated into a replica of the full statue, which will be on display in a major exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, Edinburgh, this weekend. Opening times and ticket details are on the museum's website.