Oldest Roman Caesar bust found in river

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*Perilous Times and The Revived Roman Empire

Oldest Roman Caesar bust found in river*

From correspondents in Paris

May 14, 2008 08:40am
Article from: AAP

A BUST of Julius Caesar, believed to be the oldest representation of the
Roman emperor yet known, has been found at the bottom of the River Rhone
in Arles, a French town founded by him in 46 BC.

AThe life-sized bust showing the Roman ruler as a balding and ageing man
with wrinkles and hollows in his face is tentatively dated to 46 BC.

Divers trained in archaeology uncovered the marble bust and a collection
of other finds in the Rhone River near the town of Arles in the south of
France.

Among other items in the treasure trove of ancient objects found in the
bed of the river was a 1.8m marble statue of Neptune, dated to the first
decade of the third century after Christ.

Two smaller statues were also found, both in bronze and measuring 70cm
each. One of them, a satyr with his hands tied behind his back,
"doubtless" originated in Hellenic Greece, the Culture Ministry said.

"Some (of the discoveries) are unique in Europe," Culture Minister
Christine Albanel said. The bust of Caesar is in a class by itself.

"This marble bust of the founder of the Roman city of Arles constitutes
the most ancient representation known today of Caesar," the ministry said.

Researchers were trying to uncover why the statues were thrown into the
river, said Michel L'Hour, who heads the Department of Subaquatic
Archaeological Research, whose divers made the discovery between
September and October 2007.

The site "has barely been skimmed", Mr L'Hour told The Associated Press.

A new search would begin later this year.

With its Roman beginnings, the area around Arles in the Provence region
of southern France and the Rhone were "propitious" for discoveries, Mr
L'Hour said.

- With AFP