“I was on the brink of falling off my chair”: Remarkable 1,800-year-old miniature portrait of Alexander the Great discovered in a Danish field Metal detector enthusiasts Finn Ibsen and Lars Danielsen stumbled upon a tiny bronze portrait of Alexander the Great during a survey in a field near Ringsted, on the Danish island of Zealand. The artifact, measuring approximately 1 inch (2.7 centimeters) in diameter, features an engraved depiction of the legendary Macedonian leader adorned with his characteristic wavy hair and a crown of ram horns. Archaeologists immediately recognized the iconic features of Alexander the Great in the portrait, attributing it to the ancient ruler whose vast empire spanned from the Balkans to present-day Pakistan before his untimely death at 32 years old. Freerk Oldenburger, an archaeologist at Museum West Zealand, emphasized the striking resemblance of the portrait to another bracket found years ago, which also bore the same stylized image. Describing the discovery as “quite remarkable,” Oldenburger highlighted the portrait’s distinctive characteristics, noting its coarser appearance compared to the previous find. Crafted from a bronze alloy with a high lead content, the portrait suggests possible melting down of a Roman bronze statuette to create it. Although the exact purpose of the artifact remains uncertain, experts estimate its origins to around A.D. 200. It could have served as a decorative element for a shield or been affixed to a sword belt, reflecting the fascination with Alexander the Great during the reign of Roman Emperor Caracalla. Caracalla, known for his admiration of the Greek conqueror, often emulated his style and even believed himself to be Alexander reincarnated, making him the only emperor depicted with a shield featuring Alexander’s portrait.
