Reconstructed Colossal Constantine statue!

[@CHAS1422]

I love the reconstruction, but I believe it is missing something critical. At the time Constantine took over Rome and completed the Basilica, he was still identifying with Sol Invictus. In all coin portraits of Sol Invictus on the reverse of Constantine's minted coins, the Sol Invictus carries a orb of the sun in his left hand, (as correctly portrayed) but also has a crown of sun rays. You can even see the notching in the cheeks to carry something bronze on the head. Put the crown with solar rays and it will be complete.

[@DavidEFarner]

Fascinating! Thanks for that tidbit!💕

[@ms.donaldson2533]

The Sun was removed by the Son for greater control and expanding the empire.

[@DariusArya]

Quite possible!!

[@daveweiss5647]

I agree, he likely woukd have had something on his head. Excellent observation.

[@midshipman8654]

well, the topic is interesting due to Constantines shifting self image throughout his reign. With a more distinctly Sol symbolism earlier on, transitioning to a more open ended monadic one, and then more explicitly christian connotations later. This statue I’m not specifically knowledgeable about, but the specific details of it may have been modified over time in accordance with his shifting imperial public image. But thats a shot in the dark on my part. I know other emperors did similar things statues and other works like the colossus of Nero being changed into one of Sol.

[@andyroo9381]

Once again, I am left mesmerized by Ancient Rome. Thank you, Darius!

[@pigdroppings]

Will Darius buy the statue and put it in his bedroom?????

[@Constantine-316]

We should start to build more statues like this again

[@jerk5959]

That would be too Euro-centric for modern day Eurabia.

[@TheInternationalBlackLipPlate]

no.. they shouldnt. If the west did this it would just be giant statues of blacks lmao we have fallen to international jewry.

[@CrackCatWantsPat]

I want to bleach my eyes

[@TheSanityInspector]

Remarkable! But I suspect that in antiquity it looked even more impressive, thanks to its lighting. We're seeing this impressive replica in a modern exhibition space, evenly illuminated with electric lights. But in its original alcove, how did it look? If it was illuminated by natural sunlight coming from overhead windows, and maybe racks of votive candles, the dramatic shadows would have made it seem very looming and overpowering indeed!

[@DariusArya]

Yes there are some realistic VR renderings... But I'm more in awe of the rebuilt model (despite its modern setting!)

[@Aristocles22]

Took them long enough to remake it. Still, even in such an... industrial setting... it's still damn impressive. Why we're not building more things like this in the West these days is beyond me. Art most people actually like and can appreciate, not triangles and ink blobs scattered across a canvas.

[@marcobelli6856]

There is some revival happening but not enough

[@erlinacobrado7947]

They were literally an empire. If we built an equivalent of this with the president, we'd be as laughable as African dictators. Artworks like this did not even exist in ancient Greece, because democracies hate these ego trips. The Lincoln memorial is an exception for an exceptional man.

[@Aristocles22]

@@erlinacobrado7947 We have plenty of exceptional figures which could use a statue. And don't forget allegorical statues, like the Statue of Liberty. Or for one actually made in the US, the Statue of Freedom on top of the US Capitol.

[@erlinacobrado7947]

@@Aristocles22Well Liberty was an abstract idea. Good luck getting bipartisan support with getting historical figures, as nice I would like it, woke leftists would obviously hate it, but extreme Evangelicals and a lot of ultraconservative Protestants would find this idolatrous too, even if Franklin or Roosevelt were depicted. Only Catholics would be comfortable would this - and even this size would raise eyebrows. Northern Europeans - from where most Americans came - never really had this culture of building large statues of rulers. This is really a Western Asian and late Roman empire thing. And can you imagine a US president in Italian marble with gold... Nowadays?

[@Aristocles22]

@@erlinacobrado7947 I can see a bronze statue just fine. He have a history of large statues here. Statue of Liberty, Our Lady of the Rockies, Mount Rushmore, even Stone Mountain counts, even though it's a bas-relief. Largest bas-relief in the history of the world. Oh, and Nashville rebuilt the statue of Athena Parthenos with gold. Full-size too.

[@johnfisher247]

Absolutely fantastic and Constantine truely deserves to have this reconstructed and remembered!

[@DutchDi]

The architect responsible for Fondazione Prada in Milan is Dutchman Rem Koolhaas, and of course his team at OMA.

[@daveweiss5647]

You are referring to thay abomination of a building that the beautiful ancient sculptures are housed in? It's an embarrassment to see what our ancestors were capable of compared to the soulless dreck we create.

[@eaquitaine10]

Wow! Love this reconstruction! Incredible!

[@DariusArya]

Amazing!!

[@MarkusFlorence]

Finally the Colossus that I've ever wanted to see! This is a great presentation of yours!!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@daveweiss5647]

Excellent work by the people who did this, it is great to be able to see even such a small glimmer of the greatness out ancestors once achieved in the ancient world!

[@j.suis9668]

Love these types of statues~ man the Egyptians, Greeks and ROMANS knew how to make the best kinds… so colossal, so simple yet grandeur, smoothed down to perfection after being chiseled at for DAYS ✨🏆✨ This is art! Amazing ✨🫶🏻

[@floydiandreamscapes5145]

I'm very glad to have found your channel. I love ancient history. Getting to see ancient buildings from the Roman Empire is a real treat. Thank you.

[@DariusArya]

My pleasure! Thanks for joining!

[@rodolfodaros4947]

Ciao Darius! Ti scrivo in italiano, oggi, perché sono felice che l'algoritmo mi abbia segnalato che esiste un tuo canale. Ho seguito con attenzione e avidità "Under Italy", e seguo le repliche con eguale interesse: bei tempi. Buone esplorazioni! Mi sono ovviamente iscritto e guarderò i video precedenti. Thank you for all the things you will tell us!

[@DariusArya]

Grazie mille. Under Italy e' stato divertente. Magari faro' qualche indagine sotto suolo anche qui su questo canale. Più' tardi magari anche episodi in italiano!

[@ladyflimflam]

I remember coming on those original pieces as a 16 year old in 1987. They were awe-inspiring, as intended. Equally breathtaking in that trip was walking up the steps in the Louvre under the Nike.

[@EugenKrieger-k5k]

Dear Darius, your insights are inspiring! Thanks for your great work!

[@SL4PSH0CK]

one of the most creative ways of restoring when it comes to missing parts or limb in this puzzling piece. wow.. appreciate the segment how they come to the conclusion of the reconstruction, i can't bare to imagine the sources they come to.

[@brentsrx7]

People who appreciate history. Awesome.

[@Diddiwehy]

Good job to all those who were involved with the Statue from the builders to the researchers 👏 Good work on the video too!

[@kamion53]

Are there any traces of paint found on the reamains of the original statue? Marble statues were painted in those days, so it would be good tp see this impressive statue in it's original paint.

[@juancarlostealdo]

Thanks Darius for your wonderful explanation of Fondazione Prada reconstruction of colossal statues of the Roman Empire.

[@DariusArya]

My pleasure!

[@johannesnicolaas]

As a historian I experience now almost a shiver of delight seeing this.

[@johannesnicolaas]

I saw those sad fragments in 1978 but could not see the total image. Now I can.

[@dancinglatino3967]

I missed it when I was visiting Milan in April this year! Thank you, Darius!

[@DariusArya]

Thanks!

[@marial8235]

Thanks Darius!!! So awesome that there is a will to reconstruct these wonderful treasures of antiquity. I hope that this inspires this company to redo the Colossus of Nero. Yes: he was a bad Emperor, but “art for art’s sake.”

[@daveweiss5647]

I agree, we need as many reconstructions as possible.

[@DariusArya]

thank you for watching! It would be fascinating

[@roycem4945]

great info - and educated presentation :)

[@wilsontheconqueror8101]

Dude! You just blew my mind! Did not know of this recreation! Awesome! Constantine was truly Great!

[@DariusArya]

Glad you liked it!

[@TWOCOWS1]

Hi Darius. Thanks for showing this. Fantastic. I have a question for you: his heavy marble arm holding the orb could not have stood in the air like that and unsupported. It must have rested on something, or it would have broken off. Can you elaborate, pls? Also, could it be that this was indeed Jupiter's statue from the Capitoline hill, brought down here and the head re-carved to the present the Christian emperor? The scale and details are way above and beyond

[@DariusArya]

Yes it could have had a strut support

[@TWOCOWS1]

@@DariusArya Thanks, .How about my hypothesis that this is indeed Jupiter's statue from the Capitoline, but it got a new head when moved below and into the basilica of Maxenteus?

[@Insectoid_]

More of this!!!! Amazing!

[@DariusArya]

Thank you! (Yes, weekly)

[@maddietighe5881]

Fascinating!

[@alexos8741]

Impressive, I saw the other video where you entered Trajan's column and it was incredible. I was wondering if you could go inside some of the remaining triumphal arches in the Roman forum and show what they look like on the inside...

[@DariusArya]

In the future - I don’t have any recent footage at the moment

[@Z__K217]

Sad to be lost among many. Thank you Darius. Encourages me to polish my Italian, to bring my children to see this an others.

[@DariusArya]

Sounds good!

[@RlsIII-uz1kl]

I think it's great to have these kinds of things recreated.

[@DeneF]

Great video and brilliant knowledge shared as always Darius. Many, many thanks. P.S. I lived in the old town of Rhodes on Rhodes Island, Greece for many years. Actually in the very area many experts think the most likely place the Colossus of Rhodes might have stood in antiquity.

[@DariusArya]

Thanks for sharing! Yes, we are missing a LOT of the huge statues.

[@ManuelMercado-g3h]

This is another awesome video. I so want to go back to Italy so badly. Gracie mille.

[@DariusArya]

Go for it!

[@daveowenmusic1749]

Wonderful presentation. Your knowledge, by listening to you, is immense about ancient civilizations. If I could live my life over, I would definitely follow in that direction. Thanks for the video!

[@DariusArya]

Wow, thank you

[@dirksawyer5667]

Excellent. Entertaining and informative as always.

[@DariusArya]

Thank you

[@edwardkornuszko4083]

Thank you for this post. Fascinating explanation.

[@DariusArya]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sooryanarayan4148]

such beauty was lost

[@benbridgwater6479]

Nice video! Do you have a reference for the (renaissance?) sketch of the pieces, including the heads with little men standing behind them?

[@Thunderpuddle]

This is absolutely awesome

[@MAMRetro]

This is truly amazing! A great remembrance of an emperor, who legalized the Christian faith, influential until this very day.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

The pain and suffering he unleashed on humanity with that is still being felt to this day. The Holocaust, was in living memory, 6 million Jews were killed by Christian Germans for not being Christians. Christians held back progress for centuries by keeping Europeans as illiterate peasants. He has a lot to answer for. Unleashing the most vile immoral religion on the world that could have died had Rome not made the state religion. Mine you the Old Testament is even more barbaric. The Abrahamic God himself is the worst creation in all fiction.

[@dashinvaine]

I think looking at the colossal head that survives that it would have had some sort of crown, or headdress, originally. You can see how it is chipped away above the forehead as if to fit under something. Could have been a hood or veil, as in statues of emperors in priestly mode.

[@AQ-jh7tk]

There is a HUGE head on Constantine The Great in Berat, Albania. Him being Illyrian/Albanian is probably why he had it put in the 2,400 year old Castle/Citadel in Berat. Highly recommend seeing it in person, it’s about 2-2.5 people tall.

[@megw7312]

Constantine was a Briton (of Brutus, grgrandson of Aeneas of Troy, founder of Rome). Historically, these people had links to Albania also.

[@megw7312]

Constantine’s mother, the Empress Helen, is said to have been a Syrian innkeeper’s daughter. She was, indeed, of Syrian descent albeit via many generations. She was the power in her marriage, being a princess of Britain with no brothers to outrank her (Her ancestry included Brutus and Aeneas of Troy and intermarriage with the ‘Holy’ family - ergo, also of descent, from apostolic Christianity. (Never ‘no room at the inn’). She is also said to have been a stablemaid: and, surely, she would also have taken close interest in the welfare of her horses as, doubtless, they would have been the finest in the empire.

[@marthaarya167]

Great video

[@IDPYouTube]

Great video thank you. No explanation of the big square holes in the head? Perhaps for some sort of crown.

[@konstantinoschronopoulos5470]

Cudos for explaining the artistic genealogy of the statue by mentioning the original Greek statue of Zeus by Phidias at Olympia!

[@luluandmeow]

Fascinating and well-researched, always quality content from Darius and excellent presentation, thank you, new subscriber!

[@DariusArya]

Thanks and welcome

[@martinstensby2011]

Really, really interesting and fascinating!! Thanks a lot!😊

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@edgarsnake2857]

Great informative video. Thanks.

[@DariusArya]

Glad it was helpful!

[@magicLakeComo]

Now u can admire It live. In Villa Cafffarelli next to Campidoglio (Capitol Hill / Town hall)

[@joseserrano141]

Professor Thanks for the information Have a nice one Sir

[@DariusArya]

You too

[@holyfreak86]

Amazing and interesting that it was decided to make a replica of the statue, will that be a trend for ancient monuments from now on?

[@simoneteritti1120]

Dovrebbero portarla nella Basilica di Massenzio

[@katerinamakedoniaGreece]

Maby in Greece because he built Orthodoxs world and first ecumenical "empire " that was Christians and democrats during hole EU were living in dark ages and medieval ages

[@richardsmith579]

Astonishing. I just wish that they could have rebuilt the basilica of Maxentius to display it. Also, dare I say, I think it was more magnificent originally.

[@aaronobryan4295]

Breath taking

[@haroldmclean3755]

Very interesting Stuff, Kudos 👍

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jasatx2024]

Majestic and impressive. 👏

[@DariusArya]

Thank you very much!

[@brober]

Magnifico! It should be returned to the Basilica of Maxentius in Roma. What is the square cut out in the left temple of Constantine's head for?

[@tonyandrade8131]

Is there a reason why the inside of his iris has two different shapes? The left looks like a creasent moon and the other a clover almost? Just curious.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

I love this video. Absolutely fantastic.

[@DariusArya]

Thank you very much!

[@Lexthebarbarian]

Why was it torn down in the first place or did it decay by itself?

[@DariusArya]

Would have been ransacked for metal parts

[@FoxgeraldMUSIC]

That replica looks so wonderful I do believe, however, that it was probably a full-color statue, like most, if not all statues back then

[@oxtristynxo583]

love this

[@wizzardofpaws2420]

WOW! This is amazing.

[@DariusArya]

Thank you- happy to share!

[@johnforguites4800]

I assume that these would have been colored rather than bare marble...that fits with the use of fabric that you mention.

[@DariusArya]

Yes!

[@paoloviti6156]

Very interesting video 👍! I really didn't know where this colossal statue was located at the Basilica of Maxentius. I'm surprised that the statue was not full white marble and quality of the head had little to do with previous very high quality of previous statues! Good job as always 👏 👍

[@DariusArya]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hangman960]

Is there anything left of the colossus from from near the coliseum ? or was it just melted down?

[@DariusArya]

Just the base remains. The outline that preserves it - visible today- is modern.

[@jan-toreegge9252]

That's really interesting, but I'm a little confused. Did the "Recycling Beauty" exhibition last only until the end of February? What did they do to Constantine after that?

[@DariusArya]

Supposed to be heading to Rome!

[@jg90049]

What are those square holes on the sides of the head?

[@DariusArya]

Part of recarving the head - and/ or attachment of crown (possibly)

[@wirelessbluestone5983]

Amazing to see it in scale but I’m wondering how the colossal statue would’ve been coloured

[@alm9368]

Impressive.

[@jelsner5077]

How cool is this? I wonder if the marble was painted in realistic skin tones, which seems to have been common in ancient Roman times?

[@DariusArya]

Yes, statuary was usually painted (at least hair, eyes)

[@ziggypop79]

Wow. I have only seen then bronze version up close as when I visited in 2013 the statue wasn’t available to view

[@virginiastanley8178]

So where is the hand pointing upward?

[@scottduke2809]

is the robe original?

[@DariusArya]

no

[@makigott19]

Can anyone explain why there are square pegs on the side temples of the collosal statue??? Was it meant for a headpiece perhaps a laurel wreath???

[@DariusArya]

Exactly -

[@arno-luyendijk4798]

Good! To speak in vein of classic sculpures: when will the finishing, i.e. complete painting begin? For from what we have proof of now, the 'marble classicness' is just what it has been debunked for: a myth.

[@hangman960]

Wow imagine how heavy it must of weighed

[@DariusArya]

Good point!

[@gert-janvanderkamp3508]

The hand looks off.. in the versions I have seen his right finger is more extended than here.. Or is this a different one?

[@DariusArya]

If you watch the whole video the issue is addressed! ✌️

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

@@DariusArya👆😉

[@gert-janvanderkamp3508]

@@DariusArya just did thx. Learned a thing :)

[@bb1111116]

I tried to find where the reconstructed statue is now and was unsuccessful. It seems to no longer be on display after the Milan exhibit closed on Feb. 27, 2023.

[@ray24051]

It's just mind-boggling that they made statues like these without any kind of modern equipment and only pretty much hand tools.

[@DavidEFarner]

FANTASTIC!! What a wonderful morning I’m having… if you are reading this, I hope you are also having a Bonjourno! 😁

[@DariusArya]

Thank you!

[@cerracarmine]

This is cool

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

I wonder if this is the actual first imperial orb in Constatine's left hand? Seems like the birth of this particular symbol.

[@DariusArya]

It was around centuries before him

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

@@DariusAryaHm, I only found discussion about the HRE imperial orb, as well as ancient globes, not as this particular symbol .

[@kimblecheat]

Wow!

[@rodolforivademar505]

Maravilloso

[@alanCalhoun2]

Home Made Reliquary for Constantine the Great? Unusual Peacock statue that is in the vision owned by Faustina? This is some funny ideas of Ancient Roman stuff. How many could figure these out? Fantasy Pieces?

[@jg90049]

When was the statue destroyed and by whom?

[@DariusArya]

Million dollar question!

[@starkillerdude1914]

My best guess, it likely fell during an earthquake and was later looted by Italians for the bronze and limestone until it was discovered in the 1400s

[@PhD777]

Would be nice if they'd put a laurel wreath or sun rays on his head (note the notches on the sides of the head).

[@felipericketts]

Does the sphere in the statue's left had represent the world? Did the ancients know the earth was a sphere? Thanks for your postings. I enjoy them! 🙂

[@timhazeltine3256]

From what I have read, the ancient Greeks believed the earth and cosmos were spherical. The orb was a symbol of a God or Goddess' dominion over the earth or universe. This symbol, like several others, was eventually co-opted by Roman Emperors as a symbol of authority. Unique examples of Imperial orbs, likely used by Maxentius, were recently excavated from the base of the Palatine in Rome. Finally, this particular type of regalia, which is still a symbol of royal authority, was an integral element of King Charles III's recent coronation.

[@DariusArya]

Yes and yes!

[@konstantinoschronopoulos5470]

The Alexandrian Greek Eratosthenes measured the circumference of the Earth to very high precision, even earlier Aristotle had proved the sphericity of the earth by reasoning from the circular shade cast on the Moon during a lunar eclipse. The idea that the Greeks and Romans believed in a flat earth and it took Columbus to disprove the notion is laughable!

[@felipericketts]

@@konstantinoschronopoulos5470 Thanks for your comments!

[@felipericketts]

@@timhazeltine3256 Thanks for your comments. sheds light on history.

[@susanpower-q5q]

Wonderful as 2025 /325 AD will be Upto 40 feet high very symbolic number 4 equals whole world ruler but how do you know Constantine was seated and not standing as similar statue of Valentinian I who is standing and holding orb in one hand ?

[@abacus749]

I think that this statue might have been standing in a more imperial pose, like Michaelangelo's David. The head and extended hand are too large in scale (in my opinion) for a seated statue.

[@DariusArya]

The accurate study was actually pretty convincing

[@user-bc4kt6nc1p]

Isn’t this now in Rome on the Capitoline Hill in 2024? Or is this only temporarily?

[@DariusArya]

New video on it dropping this month!

[@edwardmiessner6502]

We are fortunate that Constantine didn't decide to have this statue of him sculpted with the excessive endowment of Priapus! 😱

[@sethleoric2598]

Constantine looks like Joaquin Pheonix in Gladiator ngl.

[@CaesarAugustus27]

Didn't the statues hand originally point up to the sky?

[@ByronWWW]

He discusses that change in the video

[@DariusArya]

I address it in the video

[@CaesarAugustus27]

@@DariusArya Alright, I see, my bad

[@misaelfraga8196]

So Constantine didn't include the Chi-rho in his colossus?

[@DariusArya]

No!

[@ORSOBIANCO11]

Good morning Darius and congrats for your videos. Within your list of colossus I would include the colossus of Barletta, representing a Roman emperor and still there as new. it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosso_di_Barletta

[@DariusArya]

Haha you are so right - filmed it - and will dedicate a video to it. It is amazing!!

[@3589546]

❤

[@Sir_Gerald_Nosehairs.]

Would it have been painted in flesh tones back in the days of the Empire?

[@CigarAttache]

Would the entire statue have been painted originally?

[@DariusArya]

At least partially - hair, eyes etc