1800-year-old Alexander the Great’s portrait unearthed in Denmark

As per the latest reports, metal detectors, while conducting a survey on an island, stumbled upon a miniature bronze portrait believed to depict Alexander the Great. If reports are to go by, Finn Ibsen and Lars Danielsen made the remarkable discovery during fieldwork outside Ringsted, a city situated on the Danish island of Zealand, and promptly turned over the artefacts to Museum West Zealand.

Referring to this, Danish archaeologist Freerk Oldenburger noted that the artefact “exhibits the characteristic features of Alexander the Great, including his unmistakable wavy hair and the depiction of ram horns.”

The bronze artefact, identified as a bracket, measures approximately 1 inch (2.7 centimetres) in diameter and is crafted from a bronze alloy. It features an engraved portrait portraying a man with wavy hair adorned with a crown of twisted ram horns, according to a statement from Museum West Zealand. Archaeologists recognised the figure immediately as Alexander the Great, the famed leader of the ancient Macedonian kingdom whose vast empire spanned from the Balkans to present-day Pakistan before his untimely demise at age 32.

Freerk Oldenburger, an archaeologist at Museum West Zealand, explained that the piece exhibits distinctive attributes associated with Alexander the Great, such as his characteristic wavy locks and the depiction of ram horns. The resemblance to another bracket portrait discovered previously further supports the identification.

While the purpose of the artefact remains uncertain, experts estimate its origin to be around AD 200. It could have functioned as a decorative shield disc or a bracket attached to a sword belt, offering insight into the fashion and style prevalent during the era. Notably, this period coincided with the reign of Caracalla, a Roman emperor from AD 198 to 217, known for his admiration of Alexander the Great.

Caracalla’s fascination with the Greek conqueror led him to emulate Alexander’s style and attire, with some accounts even suggesting that he believed himself to be the reincarnation of Alexander. Oldenburger highlighted that Caracalla was depicted with a shield bearing a portrait of Alexander the Great, emphasising the emperor’s profound admiration for his ancient predecessor.