In 2019 archaeologists in the ancient city of Laodicea in the western province of Denizli unearthed a grandiose statue of Trajan. Trajan ruled from 98 to 117 AD. He was known for his military expansion and public building programs. He was the second of the "Five Good Emperors".
 | Researchers think the Trajan statue—which once stood by a fountain—was destroyed and buried in an earthquake. The team pieced together 356 fragments to reconstruct the imposing monument. The statue is likely unique in terms of its size and intricacy. The three-meter-high sculpture is highly detailed. The emperor's clothes feature symbols from Roman mythology: Jupiter’s thunderbolt, the head of Medusa and two griffins representing Apollo.
Towards the end of the Roman Republic, Laodicea benefited from its advantageous position on a trade route, and became one of the most important cities of Asia Minor. Early Laodicea became a seat of Christianity. |  |
 | The area is prone to earthquakes. The city was often rocked and destroyed by them through millenia. |  |
A leading city during the first century, Laodicea was completely destroyed by an earthquake in AD 60. The city was renowned for three main industries: it was a banking center for the province of Asia Minor, including a gold exchange; a textile center where glossy, black wool was woven into garments called trimata that were prized in the Roman world; and the location of a medical school.
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