Deus Lunus statue, Woolwich, London

This image depicts the Deus Lunus statue, a late Roman sculpture located at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London. Easaw and Anna stay in the Royal Arsenal building area in Woolwich.

Historical Background

The statue has a fascinating history involving both ancient origins and British military campaigns:

 * Discovery: It was dug up by British troops (the 3rd Regiment of Guards, later the Scots Guards) in 1801 while they were making entrenchments during the siege of Alexandria in Egypt.

 * Naming: Although the plaque identifies it as "Deus Lunus" (a moon god), modern scholars believe it actually depicts a Roman barbarian. It was likely one of a pair of figures that supported an architectural feature in a public building or necropolis.

 * Arrival in London: It was brought to the UK in September 1802, likely alongside other famous Egyptian artifacts like the Rosetta Stone.

Current Location

You can find it standing outside the Royal Brass Foundry building on No. 1 Street. (Where Jobin and Anna are staying..). Because it was exposed to London's industrial pollution for over a century, much of its original detail has been eroded, giving it the weathered, textured appearance seen in your photo.

It remains a unique connection between the military history of the Royal Arsenal and the Napoleonic Wars in Egypt.

The statue is estimated to be between 1,700 and 2,000 years old. While there isn't a precise "birthday" carved into the stone, historians and archaeologists have narrowed down its age based on its style and origin:

 * The Estimated Era: It is classified as "Late Roman," typically dating it to the 1st to 3rd Century CE.

 * The Most Specific Dating: Research conducted by specialists from the British Museum suggests it likely dates toward the later end of that spectrum, possibly the early 3rd Century.

 * Historical Context: If the theory that it depicts a "Roman Barbarian" (specifically a captive) is correct, it was likely part of a grand monument or public building in Alexandria, Egypt, built to celebrate Roman military victories during the height of the Empire.

Why is it so hard to date exactly?

 * Weathering: As you likely noticed when seeing it, the statue is heavily eroded. It spent over 150 years standing outside in Woolwich during the height of London's industrial "Great Smog" era. The acidic pollution ate away at the fine details that would normally help art historians pin down a more exact decade.

 * Mistaken Identity: For a long time, it was called "Deus Lunus" because people thought it was a moon god. We now know it's a secular figure (a prisoner/ barbarian), but shifting that historical classification changed how experts look at its "age" relative to other Roman artworks.

In short, when you stand in front of it, you are looking at stone that was carved roughly 1,800 years ago in North Africa. It is indeed a sad thought that it is facing the vagaries of British weather for over 225 years now, staying in the open.