Roman Emperor Caligula’s Bust Rediscovered After 200 Years

A bronze bust of the Roman Emperor Caligula, missing for nearly 200 years, has been found and will soon be on display again at Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, southwest London. This exciting discovery marks the end of a ten-year search led by Dr. Silvia Davoli, curator at Strawberry Hill.

The bust was originally given to Horace Walpole, a famous writer and politician, by Horace Mann, a British diplomat in Italy. It was last seen in public during the Great Sale of 1842, when Walpole’s collection was sold off, scattering many of his prized possessions into private hands.

Mann mentioned that the statue was one of the earliest artifacts unearthed from the ruins of Herculaneum, a Roman town destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, as reported by Archaeology Mag.

People mistook the bust for Alexander the Great

Walpole, who built Strawberry Hill House in 1749, thought the bronze bust was one of his most precious items. However, after he passed away in 1797, the statue changed owners many times. In the 1800s, some believed it was the bust of Alexander the Great. Eventually, it ended up with the Schroders investment company, where it remained in storage.

Davoli, however, made a surprising discovery while preparing an exhibit on treasure hunting at Strawberry Hill. “I was so happy when I finally saw the bronze and made the link,” Davoli said. She matched a drawing made for Walpole in the 1780s to a bronze head listed in the Schroder Collection’s list.

They had no idea it was Caligula’: bronze bust of Roman emperor found after 200 years

A tiny #Roman rarity cast near Vesuvius and once owned by the writer and politician Horace Walpole has been discovered by an eagle-eyed curator.

The bronze head, just 13cm high, was found in a… pic.twitter.com/ct7kxYTqYM

— Jervons July (@JervonsJuly) June 23, 2024

The drawing, by the famous artist John Carter, captured details of Walpole’s treasures, such as patterns in the marble base holding the statue.

London-based metal conservator Rupert Harris verified that the bronze matched the composition of 2,000-year-old artifacts. Dr. Dietrich Boschung, an expert on ancient Roman symbols from the University of Cologne, also confirmed its authenticity. “I’m convinced it is Caligula,” Boschung stated, noting the silver inlays in the bust’s eyes, a typical feature for Roman emperors.

The bust could be a Renaissance creation

Although experts initially confirmed its authenticity, Dr. Caterina Badan, curator of the Schroder Collection, now suggests the bust could be a Renaissance creation mistakenly linked to the Herculaneum excavation in the 17th century.

This theory will be investigated further during the upcoming exhibition. The exhibition will include a detailed metal analysis of the bust and insight from experts as to its origins, as reported by Archaeology Mag.

Caligula became emperor at the age of 24 in the year 37 CE. He was known for spending huge amounts of money and was rumored to have had inappropriate relationships, including with his sisters.

His rule ended suddenly when he was killed by his own Praetorian Guard. Despite being criticized, Caligula continues to interest people and has inspired many books, movies, and lots of artwork.