Romans carefully dismantled statue of emperor when they withdrew from Scotland 1,800 years ago, leaving only his foot behind
A mysterious bronze foot found in a bog was likely once part of a monumental statue of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius, who tried to conquer Scotland.
A larger-than-life statue of Roman emperor Antoninus Pius once stood in Scotland, but only a right leg remains today. The gold-covered bronze foot and calf, known as the Milsington leg, was discovered in a bog in 1820. Researchers believe the statue was carefully dismantled when the Romans withdrew from Scotland over 1,800 years ago.
The bronze foot and calf were found in a bog in Milsington, England, and are believed to have originally belonged to an equestrian statue of Antoninus Pius. Antoninus Pius was emperor from A.D. 138 to 161 and directed the Roman governor of Britain to invade and build a wall in Scotland. However, the wall was abandoned after his death, and the Romans retreated.
The leg shows no signs of violent damage, suggesting it was removed carefully. This provides new insight into Rome's attempt to conquer Scotland and the significance of such statues in imperial expansion.
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