Statue of Trajan, Tower Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Trajan |
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The statue in 2010
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| Year | 1980 (erected) |
| Medium | Bronze sculpture |
| Subject | Trajan |
| Location | London, United Kingdom |
| 51°30′36″N 0°04′34″W / 51.509875°N 0.076174°W | |
The Statue of Trajan is a bronze statue of the Roman Emperor Trajan. It stands outside in London, United Kingdom. You can find it near the London Wall, which was built by the Romans. The statue was put up in the 1980s.
About the Statue
The statue shows Emperor Trajan without a hat. He wears a long shirt called a tunic. In his left hand, he holds a scroll, like an old book. His right hand is raised as if he is speaking or giving a command.
What the Plaque Says
At the bottom of the statue, there is a special sign called a plaque. It says:
STATUE BELIEVED TO BE OF THE ROMAN EMPEROR TRAJAN/ A.D. 98–117/ IMPERATOR CAESAR NERVA TRAJANUS AUGUSTUS/ PRESENTED BY THE TOWER HILL IMPROVEMENT TRUST AT THE/ REQUEST OF THE REVEREND P. B. CLAYTON, CH, MC, DD, /FOUNDER PADRE OF TOC H.
This means the statue is thought to be of Emperor Trajan, who ruled from 98 to 117 AD. It was given by a group called the Tower Hill Improvement Trust. This was done because Reverend P. B. Clayton, who started Toc H, asked for it.
How the Statue Got Here
The statue was put in place in 1980. It was a gift from P. B. "Tubby" Clayton. He was a vicar, which is a type of priest, at a church called All Hallows-by-the-Tower.
Experts at the Museum of London think the statue was found in a scrapyard in Southampton. This happened sometime in the 1920s. They also noticed something interesting: the head of the statue does not quite match its body. No one knows who made the statue.
Where the Statue Came From
This statue is a copy, or "cast," of an older statue. The original statue was found in a place called Minturno. That original statue is now on display in Italy, at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.
The top part of the head on this statue was fixed or added later. There are other copies of this statue in different cities. You can find them in Rome, Ancona, and Benevento.
It's important to know that Emperor Trajan himself never actually visited Britain.
