#PortraitThursday - The bronze head of Hadrian, discovered in the River Thames, is one of the most striking surviving Roman sculptures in Britain. Discovered in 1834 near London Bridge, this head is believed to have originally belonged to an over-life-size statue of the emperor that stood in Roman Londinium (modern London). The style suggests it was made locally.
The head is cast in bronze, a material far more valuable and less commonly preserved than marble because it was often melted down and reused. Its survival is therefore unusual. Only three bronze portraits of Hadrian have survived from antiquity, and the head found in the Thames is the only one discovered in Britain.
The Easter Bank Holiday is the start of the #hadrianswall#nationaltrail Passport Scheme.
The revenue we generate goes back into improving the infrastructure along the trail.
For those about to support us, we salute you 🫡