Giant Statue of Emperor Constantine Resurfaces Over Rome Through 3D Technology

A replica of Emperor Constantine’s statue was unveiled in front of the Capitoline Museums in Rome, Italy, on the 6th (local time). AP·Yonhap News

The statue of Constantine the Great, the 44th emperor of the ancient Roman Empire, has been reborn in its original size after about 1700 years. Constantine the Great ruled the Roman Empire for 31 years from 306 AD, during the 4th century. In historical records, he issued the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, formally recognizing Christianity.

On the 6th (local time), the Roman authorities unveiled a 13-meter (42.7 feet) tall replica of Emperor Constantine’s statue at the Capitoline Museums in Rome.

The statue of Emperor Constantine, which dates to the fourth century AD, is known to have lost all parts except for nine pieces, including the face, hands, and feet.

The unveiled replica is not the original, but a reconstruction based on the remaining original marble body parts. Using 3D technology, they reproduced the complete form if all the lost pieces were found and assembled.

This project was funded by the Fondazione Prada, an art foundation established by the Italian fashion brand Prada, and the statue was produced by the Factum Foundation for Digital Technology. Factum used photogrammetry to laser scan the remaining pieces, virtually predicted the lost parts, and created the entire sculpture using 3D printing.

Salvatore Settis, an archaeologist and art historian at Fondazione Prada, said, “This statue contains not only beauty but also the violence of power.” Adam Lowe, the founder of the Factum Foundation, said, “Changing our understanding and importance of cultural heritage using technology is the core mission of the Factum Foundation.”

The Constantine statue produced at this time was made of polyurethane resin and marble powder. The golden tunic draped over the statue was made of gold foil and plaster.