THE BRONZE STATUES FROM THE THEATRE


Excavation of the Roman theatre in the early years of the 20 th century led to the discovery of a drapery fragment, a male foot, and an ear (now lost) belonging to one or more life-size bronze statues that originally decorated the building.
The foot is shod in a boot (calceus) fitted with two laces that cross at the ankle. This type of footwear was not used for statues of divinities. It indicates that the piece comes from the statue of an important person who probably wore a toga. There is a hole under the toes for attaching the statue to its base. The heel is raised and the non-weightbearing leg inclined forwards and inwards suggest that the subject of the statue was seated.
Roman theatres were often richly decorated with statues set up in both the proscenium and the cavea (auditorium). Those in bronze were preferably honorary statues like the abundant Julian and Claudian series that adorned the summa cavea of the theatre at Hercolanum.





back button