Bust of Emperor Hadrian found in Spain

A marble bust of the emperor Hadrian, dated to AD 135 AD, had been excavated at the archaeological site of Los Torrejones in the Region of Murcia in Spain.

The marble bust of Hadrian recently discovered at the Los Torrejones 
archaeological site ijn Spain [Credit: Museo Arqueológico de Yecla]

The new bust, which measures 52 cm high and 25 cm wide, was found alongside another smaller figure of a woman dating to the same period.

Both sculptures were found lying at the entrance of a large building "associated with the use of water", possibly a Nymphaeum. Other excavated fragments show that the same building was adorned with various decorative elements.

"It is also possible that the building was owned by a prominent local person who was related to the Emperor, since Hadrian was Hispanic," says archaeologist Liborio Ruiz.

"It most likely stood atop a plinth in public view," adds Ruiz.

"The face looks regally into the distance, the head tilted slightly to the left. The beard and hair are cunningly crafted in such a way that the Emperor appears to have a halo."

" It's a masterpiece of the first order and certainly one of the finest extant busts of Hadrian."

The Los Torrejones site consists of a rural Roman villa complex which included a "monumental area" in which the owner lived as well a "service area" which housed the workforce on the agricultural land around it.

It is one of five such sites discovered in the municipality of Yecla which are known to have been occupied between the 1st and 4th centuries AD.

Excavation at the site of Los Torrejones is an ongoing project and further digs are planned for 2015.

The newly discovered bust is on display at the Museo Arqueológico de Yecla.

Video of the press conference (in Spanish) http://www.laverdad.es/videos/yecla/201502/05/encuentran-yecla-busto-emperador-4034485543001-mm.html

Source: Museo Arqueológico de Yecla [February 09, 2015]