A Good Roman Emperor

Notice to all ancient history buffs! The head of a once 15-foot-tall statue of Marcus Aurelius, one of the earlier Roman emperors, has been discovered in Turkey.

From Iran-based Press TV:

The exquisitely carved marble sculpture was found in the largest room of Sagalassos's Roman baths, high in the mountains of southern Turkey. According to team-director Professor Marc Waelkens of Belgium's Catholic University of Leuven they found the sculpture with its pupils gazing upwards "as if in deep contemplation, perfectly fitting of an emperor who was more of a philosopher than a soldier.

Why is this of note? Aurelius has always been one of my favorite emperors, as he was known more for thinking than for fighting.

The Roman ruler, who reigned from 161 to 180 BC, was depicted in exquisitely carved and decorated army boots and his torso was probably covered in bronze armor filled with terracotta or wood. Considered one of the leading Stoic philosophers, Marcus Aurelius is known as one of the so-called 'Five Good Emperors', along with Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian and Antoninus Pius."

Who knew there were any "good" Roman emperors?

By Bonnie Erbe