Statue Marco Aurelio Piazza Capitolino Roma

 Italy > Lazio > Roma Capitale > Rome

---

The statue of Marcus Aurelius is a bronze ancient Roman statue that is located in Rome in the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museums. It was created in the 160-180s. The originally gilded equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius was erected on the slope of the Capitol opposite the Roman Forum. This is the only equestrian statue that has survived from antiquity, since in the Middle Ages it was believed that it depicts Emperor Constantine I the Great, whom the Christian church canonized as “a saint of equal apostles.” In the XII century, the statue was transferred to Lateran Square. In the 15th century, the Vatican librarian Bartolomeo Platina compared the images on coins and recognized the identity of the rider. In 1538, she was placed on the Capitol by order of Pope Paul III. The base for the statue was made by Michelangelo on it is written: "ex humiliore loco in area capitoliam". The statue is only twice the size. Marcus Aurelius is depicted in a soldier’s cloak over a tunic.