In the annals of archaeological history, 1864 stands out as a momentous year marked by the discovery of a colossal artifact that transcended time – a 4-meter-tall Hercules statue dating back over 2,000 years. Unearthed with great anticipation, this monumental find offered a captivating glimpse into the ancient world, sparking imaginations and rewriting the narrative of classical art.

Picture the scene in 1864, where archaeologists and historians embarked on a quest that would redefine their understanding of the past. In a stroke of serendipity, the excavation team stumbled upon the towering figure of Hercules, standing at an impressive 4 meters in height. The moment of discovery echoed through the archaeological community, unveiling a masterpiece that had withstood the sands of time.

Glimpses of the Past: Hercules in His Glory

The Hercules statue, carved with meticulous detail, depicts the mythical hero in a moment of triumph, capturing the essence of strength and valor. The sheer size of the sculpture adds a layer of grandeur, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring presence of this ancient masterpiece. The discovery not only provided a tangible link to classical mythology but also offered insights into the artistic prowess of civilizations long gone.

Preserving the Marvel: The Current State of the Hercules Statue

Fast forward to the present day, and the Hercules statue stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient craftsmanship. While the ravages of time have left their mark, preservation efforts have been steadfast in maintaining the statue’s structural integrity and historical significance. Visitors today can witness the Hercules statue in all its glory, albeit with the weathered patina that adds a layer of authenticity to its millennia-long journey.

The Intersection of Art and History

Conclusion: A Glimpse into Antiquity

The discovery of the 4-meter-tall Hercules statue in 1864 remains etched in the annals of archaeology as a pivotal moment that brought an ancient hero back to life. Its current state, a testament to the meticulous efforts of preservation, allows present-day admirers to step into the footsteps of those who marveled at this colossal masterpiece over two millennia ago. As Hercules stands frozen in time, the echoes of the past resonate, inviting us to delve into the mysteries of antiquity

A massive bronze statue of Hercules, known as Hercules Mastai Righetti, has been housed at the Vatican for years. It shows the half-human Roman god of strength after he finished his labors. The statue is considered divine because it was previously struck by lighting. The restoration team has made a significant discovery about the statue and the people who created it.

Herakles Unearthed 01.
The statue of Herakles unearthed in the foundation of the Pio-Righetti,
photo, 1864.
Image Credits: Humanities July 2004.
The statue of Hercules, unearthed in the foundation of the Pio-Righetti circa 1864. (Photo Credit: Amadscientist / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)

The 13-foot-tall statue of Hercules was originally discovered in 1864 after work had commenced on a banker’s villa close to Rome’s Campo de’ Fiori square. Once the massive statue was identified, it was featured in many newspaper headlines and earned the attention of visitors from all over, including Pope Pius IX. Pope Pius IX later added the statue to the papal collection, where it found its home in a niche of the Vatican Museums’ Round Hall.

Experts haven’t been able to determine the exact date of the statue’s origin, but they’ve narrowed it down between the first and third centuries. For the last 150 years, Hercules Mastai Righetti has gone largely unnoticed by visitors to the museum. Its surface was covered in a dark coating, as well as grime and dust, making it pretty unnoticeable.

In this gilded bronze statue (dated roughly 100-300 AD), a young Heracles is shown leaning on his club, a lion skin over his arm with one of the golden apples in his hand. (Photo Credit: Slice of Light / Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Upon the slab of travertine marble on which the statue stands, the inscription “FCS” is engraved. According to Claudia Valeria, curator of the Vatican Museums’ Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, this indicates that the statue was once struck by lightning.

In Latin, “FCS” stands for “fulgur conditum summanium,” which translates to a phrase meaning, “Here is buried a Summanian thunderbolt.” This inscription was put on objects that were blessed by Summanus, the ancient Roman god of nocturnal thunder.

The ancient Romans believed that objects struck by lightning were imbued with divinity. This blessedness also extended to the place where lightning struck the item as well as to where it was buried. Hercules Mastai Righetti’s burial in a marble shrine helps to support this claim, as it coincides with Roman burial rites that observed lightning as a divine force.

“It is said that sometimes being struck by lightning generates love but also eternity,” Vatican Museums archaeologist Giandomenico Spinola said. The Hercules statue “got his eternity … because having been struck by lightning, it was considered a sacred object.”

During a restoration project intended to remove a wax coating the statue was given during the 19th century, workers discovered that the entire statue was gilded in a beautiful, bright yellow-golden bronze. This means the statue is not only the largest surviving bronze statue of the ancient world but also one of the most significant gilded ones.

Discovery of the gilding revealed the remarkable skill of ancient smelters, who impressively fused mercury to gold. This mixture ultimately made the surface longer-lasting. “The history of this work is told by its gilding. … It is one of the most compact and solid gildings found to date,” says Ulderico Santamaria, a University of Tuscia professor who heads the Vatican Museums’ scientific research lab.

The statue’s burial proved both a benefit and a hindrance to the team in charge of restoring Hercules Mastai Righetti to its former glory. It helped maintain the gilding on the statue over the centuries but also covered it with dirt and build-up that’s proved to be rather difficult to remove.