The Vatican Museums are home to one of the world’s most renowned collections of art and artifacts. Located in Vatican City, the museums are a treasure trove of some of the oldest and most significant works of art and archaeological discoveries.
Among the collection, is a piece which dates back to the 4th century BCE, making it one of the oldest pieces in the entire museum. This ancient artifact is known as ‘The Apollo Belvedere Torso’ and it is a marble sculpture depicting an athlete with his head missing.
The Apollo Belvedere Torso was discovered in Rome in 1489 by Pius II Piccolomini, who was Pope at the time. It had been buried beneath an ancient Roman theater for centuries before it was unearthed. Although no one knows for sure who created this sculpture, it is believed to have been carved by Apollonios from Athens or his students between 350-325 BCE.
This sculpture is highly regarded as one of the greatest surviving sculptures from Ancient Greece. It has been praised by many leading figures throughout history including Michelangelo and Goethe who admired its grace and poise. Its influence can be seen today in many sculptures around the world, particularly those depicting athletes or warriors with missing body parts such as arms or heads.
The Apollo Belvedere Torso stands tall at 2 meters (6 feet 6 inches) high and weighs around 1 tonne (1,000 kilograms). It has been carefully preserved over its long lifetime due to its importance both historically and artistically. It can be found inside the Pio-Clementine Museum at the Vatican Museums today, where visitors can appreciate its beauty for themselves.
What Is The Oldest Piece Of Art In The Vatican Museum? The answer is The Apollo Belvedere Torso which dates back to 350-325 BCE making it one of the oldest pieces in the entire museum collection. This ancient marble sculpture has stood tall through centuries and continues to be admired by art lovers from all around the world today.