Equestrian Statue Of Marcus Aurelius

This bronze-gilded masterpiece is a dedication to the emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. It is one of the few equestrian statues to be standing to this day. The majority of equestrian statues were melted down to create church bells and coin. This statue survived because in the Middle Ages it was thought to portray the first Christian Emperor, Constantine. The original location of the equestrian monument remains unknown, but some believe that it was located on the Caelian Hill near the barracks of the imperial cavalry. In 1538 the statue was relocated to become the centerpiece for Michelangelo’s new design for the Campidoglio. The statue itself remained where Michelangelo positioned it until it was moved indoors in 1981 for conservation reasons. It is now housed within the Musei Capitolini where it can be visited today. The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius is a very important object for the study of official Roman portraiture.

The bronze statue stands 4.24 meters tall. The horseman has curly hair and a curly beard that covers his cheeks and upper lip. He is wearing a short sleeved tunic with a cloak that is clasped on his right shoulder. The emperor’s body is slightly turned to the right and his right arm is outstretched, almost as if he were commanding a large army. The rider’s left hand is surprisingly empty, with his palm open and facing the sky, but he is wearing a ring. His ring was more than likely a symbol of his power at the time. It looks as if he was originally holding something, but there does not appear to be any proof because the palm of his hand is intricately