Kneeling Oriental

The Roman conquest of the Mediterranean world gave the emperors control of many rare, coloured marbles. They came to symbolize the might of the Empire. Coloured marbles were to be seen in especially prestigious architecture, such as the imperial fora at the centre of Rome. The rare stones were also used for the colourful dresses worn by barbarian peoples. An example is the ‘Peacock marble’ used for the ‘Kneeling Oriental’.This is one of three kneeling Orientals who carried a giant bronze tripod. It was probably a victory monument set up in Rome by Augustus.