Bosham Head facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bosham Head |
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|---|---|
| Artist | Unknown |
| Year | AD 121 / 122 |
| Medium | Stone |
| Condition | Poor |
| Location | The Novium, Chichester |
The Bosham Head is a really important stone sculpture. It's actually part of the biggest Roman statue ever found in Britain! This giant stone piece weighs about 170 kilograms (that's like two grown-ups!). It was found way back in the 1800s in a place called Bosham, close to Chichester. For a while, it sat in the garden of the Bishop of Chichester's palace. Now, you can see it at Chichester Museum.
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What is the Bosham Head?
The Bosham Head is a large, sculpted stone head. It was once part of a much bigger statue. Experts believe this statue was the largest Roman one ever discovered in Britain. Imagine how huge the full statue must have been!
Where was it found?
The head was found in the village of Bosham. This village is very close to the city of Chichester. The discovery happened around the year 1800. It's amazing that such an old and important piece of history was found there.
Where is it now?
After its discovery, the Bosham Head had a few homes. For some time, it was kept in the garden of the Bishop of Chichester's palace. Today, it is a star exhibit at the Chichester Museum. This museum helps protect and display important local history.
Who was the Bosham Head?
For a long time, no one was sure who the head was meant to be. But in 2013, scientists used special technology to find out more.
How did they identify the head?
In 2013, Dr. Miles Russell and Harry Manley from Bournemouth University used 3D laser scans. This technology creates a detailed digital model of an object. By carefully studying the scans, they could see more details than before.
What did the scans reveal?
The 3D scans helped them figure out that the head likely belonged to a statue of Emperor Trajan. He was a powerful Roman emperor who ruled from 98 AD to 117 AD. He was known for expanding the Roman Empire.
Why was the statue built?
Experts think the statue might have been put up by another Roman emperor, Hadrian. He ruled after Trajan, from 117 AD to 138 AD. It's possible Hadrian wanted to honor Trajan. The statue might have stood at the entrance of Chichester Harbour. This would have been a very important and visible spot.
