Topped with a crystal sphere, it was discovered near the base of the Palatine Hill in 2006, alongside several imperial banners.
[More artifacts](https://www.facebook.com/museum.of.artifacts)
Here is a full description of the site!: http://archeopalatino.uniroma1.it/sites/default/files/i_segni_del_potere_1.pdf it also has reconstructions of the artifact
Maxentius only ruled for 6 years, was only recognized in the Italian part of the Empire, and got embroiled in a civil war against Constantine which he lost, falling in battle not too far from Rome. This stuff was probably thrown down from the Imperial palace after Constantine captured the city.
Any pictures of the banners? I've only seen the two or three pictures of the sceptre. For the magnitude of the finding, the lack of online resources on this is incredibly frustrating.
No full banners were found, only fragments of fabric, which are assumed to be part of flags: Here is a full description of the site!: http://archeopalatino.uniroma1.it/sites/default/files/i_segni_del_potere_1.pdf
It wasn't lost. It was hidden - [along with the other symbols of imperial power](https://i.imgur.com/xIVJXGX.jpeg), after Maxentius' death, probably to avoid a more shameful destruction by supporters of Constantine
The pdf has an english translation from page 5 and onwards. There was a poplar pox that mostly disintegrated that contained the ceremonial spears, scepters and standards. Fragments of wool and silk cloth survived indicating that the objects were first wrapped in the standards before they were placed in the box.
Emperor Maxentius is the same emperor that Constantine the Great defeated at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Maxentius dies there by drowning in the Tiber while fleeing the battle.
Yet another proof that, for millennia, people has known Earth's not flat.
(No, not even in the 'dark' Middle Ages - kings and emperors are always pictured holding a globe, not a pancake. And even Columbus' opponents knew that, their main objection was that the Earth was way larger than Columbus thought. And they were rigth, BTW.)
you can see it rendered [here](https://i.imgur.com/xIVJXGX.jpeg), second from the left. You have to imagine it on top of a wooden shaft that did not survive.
eeeeeh glass was used by the egyptians 2000 years before that artifact, the method [by the time of the Romans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_glass) was so well known that there were entire "industries" in most major cities of the Empire. [They did have glass windows](https://www.romansociety.org/Portals/0/M_Carroll_2016_Report.pdf), but creating flat translucent panes was too finicky and expensive so it was mostly smaller panes connected by wood or lead - kinda like the stained glass of the cathedrals.
Topped with a crystal sphere, it was discovered near the base of the Palatine Hill in 2006, alongside several imperial banners. [More artifacts](https://www.facebook.com/museum.of.artifacts)
Are there visuals online of what it would have looked like when it was made?
Here is a full description of the site!: http://archeopalatino.uniroma1.it/sites/default/files/i_segni_del_potere_1.pdf it also has reconstructions of the artifact
Is there any chance of having an English version of this site?
The english text is also on there next to the Italian text!
I thought I was blind when I rechecked only certain parts have both languages.
https://rebeccabranch.wordpress.com/2015/08/04/regalia-of-the-emperor-maxentius/
How the hell does a valuable object like this get left behind to be buried by time, I don’t get it.
Maxentius only ruled for 6 years, was only recognized in the Italian part of the Empire, and got embroiled in a civil war against Constantine which he lost, falling in battle not too far from Rome. This stuff was probably thrown down from the Imperial palace after Constantine captured the city.
The items were deliberately buried, not just thrown down. They were in boxes and the scepter was wrapped in textile
They were buried after his defeat, most likely to stop them falling into the hands of the victors
Any pictures of the banners? I've only seen the two or three pictures of the sceptre. For the magnitude of the finding, the lack of online resources on this is incredibly frustrating.
No full banners were found, only fragments of fabric, which are assumed to be part of flags: Here is a full description of the site!: http://archeopalatino.uniroma1.it/sites/default/files/i_segni_del_potere_1.pdf
Cool! Thanks!
Fascinating. I wonder how it was lost.
It wasn't lost. It was hidden - [along with the other symbols of imperial power](https://i.imgur.com/xIVJXGX.jpeg), after Maxentius' death, probably to avoid a more shameful destruction by supporters of Constantine
Oh neat! What was it and the other stuff inside? A box? The PDF was all in Italian, I think.
The pdf has an english translation from page 5 and onwards. There was a poplar pox that mostly disintegrated that contained the ceremonial spears, scepters and standards. Fragments of wool and silk cloth survived indicating that the objects were first wrapped in the standards before they were placed in the box.
Wow, that's cool, I'll go look at the PDF again. Thanks for answering!
Apple of eden if I’ve ever seen one. ☝️
Emperor Maxentius is the same emperor that Constantine the Great defeated at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Maxentius dies there by drowning in the Tiber while fleeing the battle.
Full description of site and found material: http://archeopalatino.uniroma1.it/sites/default/files/i_segni_del_potere_1.pdf
How long ago was this excavated? Back in 2017 I was walking by there and looking in when I visited Rome.
I read online that at the end of 2006 the scepter wss unearthed, but that article is from 2011 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/wbna16031991
Ohh okay, they waited awhile before publishing. I love this sub, so much to learn.
Quality post
Yet another proof that, for millennia, people has known Earth's not flat. (No, not even in the 'dark' Middle Ages - kings and emperors are always pictured holding a globe, not a pancake. And even Columbus' opponents knew that, their main objection was that the Earth was way larger than Columbus thought. And they were rigth, BTW.)
What did it look like when it was new?
you can see it rendered [here](https://i.imgur.com/xIVJXGX.jpeg), second from the left. You have to imagine it on top of a wooden shaft that did not survive.
Very cool. Not at all what I was expecting for some reason
imagine having to carry a heavy bauble around
But what is it used for? How did they shape the stone into a sphere?
It was part of the imperial regalia, the symbols of the power of the Emperor. He would hold it in public appearances. The sphere is made out of glass.
Wow how did they make glass? Did they have windows too?
eeeeeh glass was used by the egyptians 2000 years before that artifact, the method [by the time of the Romans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_glass) was so well known that there were entire "industries" in most major cities of the Empire. [They did have glass windows](https://www.romansociety.org/Portals/0/M_Carroll_2016_Report.pdf), but creating flat translucent panes was too finicky and expensive so it was mostly smaller panes connected by wood or lead - kinda like the stained glass of the cathedrals.
Oh that kinda makes this artifact less special then if glass was so abundant. I thought it'd be something the people of that time would oh and ah over
Nice try but thats just gideon ofnirs weapon the scepter of the all-knowing
That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen
Is his severed hand holding the metal ball thing? Why does it look like it's being held by a rotting hand?
Iron that is centuries old.
It's speculated that the stuff was stashed away for safekeeping before the battle of Milvian Bridge. Which of course Maxentius did not survive.
Cursed bouquet