Hercules is a legendary hero from ancient Roman mythology, derived from the Greek hero Heracles. For centuries, his marble statue lay buried deep beneath the Appian Way Park (Parco Archeologico dell’Appia Antica) and was discovered during repairs to an old sewage system. The park is home to numerous ancient monuments and archaeological finds, including a segment of the famous Appian Way, which connected Rome to Brindisi in southeastern Italy, as well as various villas and tombs.
Repair workers responding to an emergency call in the park noticed a nearly intact life-sized statue of Hercules at a depth of 20 meters. The mythological figure is depicted wearing a lion’s skin and wielding a club—his weapon of choice, as reported by Heritage Daily. Experts estimate that the marble figure was created between 27 B.C. and 476 A.D.
On the Parco Archeologico dell’Appia Antica Facebook page, park officials suggested that the statue might represent Emperor Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius, who identified himself with Hercules by wearing a lion’s skin. Decius was the emperor of the Roman Empire from 249 to 251 A.D.
The Romans adapted the myths of the Greek hero Heracles to fit their own culture, even creating a series of new myths about Hercules. Ancient Roman aristocrats regarded him as their god, and some emperors, including Commodus and Maximian, worshipped him.