Brief
2,000‑year‑old Roman marble torso set for Sotheby’s auction
The fragment, originally displayed in a temple at Salona, illustrates imperial power and will be sold later this month.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A marble torso dating to the Julio‑Claudian era (27 BCE–68 CE) is scheduled for auction by Sotheby’s on October 21, 2026. The piece, recovered from the ruins of an ancient temple in present‑day Croatia, once formed part of a larger sculpture that displayed an emperor’s chestplate.
According to antiquities specialist Alexandra Olsman of Sotheby’s, the torso’s decorative elements—such as the sun god Sol in a quadriga, the goddess Victoria, and motifs of ram and feline heads—were intended to convey Roman authority and the triumph of order over chaos. The sculpture was originally installed in the town of Salona to remind conquered residents of imperial rule.
Only the torso survives; its limbs and head were regularly replaced to reflect the reigning emperor. The auction will offer collectors a rare example of Roman imperial iconography crafted from Parian marble.
Key facts
- The marble torso dates to the Julio‑Claudian period (27 BCE–68 CE). (popsci.com)
- It was originally displayed in a temple at Salona, Croatia. (popsci.com)
- Sotheby’s will auction the fragment on October 21, 2026. (popsci.com)
- Alexandra Olsman of Sotheby’s explained the iconography symbolizes Roman power. (popsci.com)
Sources
- [1] popsci.com — originally reported as “2,000-year-old marble torso symbolizes the dawn of ancient Rome”
