The white lie we've been told about Roman statues

Caesar Augustus, the first official emperor of the Roman Empire, is known for a famous sculpture called the 'Augustus of Prima Porta.' Carved in the 1st century AD and lost to time before being rediscovered in the 1860s. It now resides in the Vatican Museums.

Ancient Greek and Roman buildings were actually colorful, with intricate frescoes and painted statues. However, Hollywood and high school textbooks have perpetuated the misconception that they were all white marble. The blame lies with artists like Michelangelo who imitated faded sculptures from ancient Greece and Rome without realizing they were originally painted.

Surviving ancient descriptions and traces of color on sculptures provide insights into the original appearance. Scientists can extract and test samples to determine pigments used, while UV light reveals invisible traces. Reconstruction is done using plaster replicas painted with accuracy. Seeing sculptures in full color brings us closer to understanding the ancient world.