Golden Imago of Marcus Aurelius, Avenches

This golden bust of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius was found in a drain beneath the Roman town of Aventicum - modern Avenches in Switzerland.

It was probably hidden when the frontier collapsed in the 5th Century, and there was no time to rescue the imperial images from the temple complex.

Aventicum was the capital of the Helvetii, the Celtic tribe defeated by Julius Caesar and brought within the Empire. The Helvetii, having become thoroughly Romanised acquired all the elements of Romanitas - a theatre, temple, arena and baths. All of which are displayed today in Avenches - a small village that occupies a tiny part of the Roman town.

This portray bust of Marcus Aurelius was a function of this romanisation. Apologies for a poor photo of an extraordinary object.