When a Roman emperor risks falling from his pedestal

The gold bust of Marcus Aurelius is the most precious and best-known object in Swiss archaeology. But while its value is hardly in dispute, the same cannot be said of its subject’s identity. According to a new theory, the bust does not represent an illustrious Roman emperor, but an obscure Gallic usurper. It’s fair to say that the bust of Marcus Aurelius is the big star of Swiss archaeology. The perfectly preserved object is certainly impressive: 33.5cm high, 1.6kg of 24-carat gold. The object is so precious that it is kept in the vaults of the cantonal bank in Lausanne – the bust on display at the Roman Museum in Avenches is just a copy. The bust comes from Avenches, a small town in canton Vaud that was once the capital of Roman Helvetia. The object was found during excavations carried out in 1939 by unemployed people on a work programme. It was buried in a drain near the ancient forum temple. The discovery of the bust in the 1939 Swiss Cinejournal newsreel (RTS archives): The ...