Friday, 2 October 2026

Marble bust of Vespasian turned into a sink with a drain in the Middle Ages

Marble bust of Vespasian with the top of the head hollowed out like a basin, against a dark blue background.

In the Middle Ages the head of Vespasian was hollowed out from within and used as a water basin, with a hole bored in the ear to serve as a drain. Collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Farnese Collection

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