The Barletta Colossos revisited.
Bente Kiilerich
The Barletta colossus is the sole large-scale statue in bronze preserved of a late antique emperor; only comparable image even larger, but fragmentary, Constantinian emperor Rome. According to local tradition, depicts Byzantine Heraclius (610-641). Modern researchers tend regard this attribution as mere folklore and fiction. But while there general consensus that does not portray Heraclius, no agreement whom it may have been intended portray. About dozen different emperors proposed, suggested dates ranging from fourth eighth century. present article reviews evidence discusses methodological problems we face when dealing with enigmatic work.
Acta ad archaeologiam et artium historiam pertinentia