Legion Eagle, 2020

Size: 120 cm length/ 180 cm width/98 cm heigth
Materials: Iron wires, chicken wire, beer caps, drink cans, water filter, Mosquito killer, plastic beads

** The entire creation's covering features Tempo company products.**

The eagle was the official symbol of the Roman legions. It served as a battle standard and was considered sacred by Roman soldiers. Each Roman legion carried a single golden eagle, borne by a special soldier known as the Aquilifer (the eagle-bearer). Losing the eagle in battle was regarded as a most severe disgrace.

During the Great Revolt (66–70 CE), the Tenth Legion Fretensis, which had been sent to suppress the uprising in Judea, lost its eagle to the Jewish rebels in the battle for Jerusalem. This loss was a severe blow to Roman honor and drove Vespasian and Titus to intensify their military campaign, which ultimately ended with the destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.

The eagle, as a symbol of authority, influenced many cultures throughout history. Empires and states that viewed themselves as heirs to the Roman tradition adopted the eagle as their emblem — among them the Byzantine Empire, the Carolingian Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Kingdom of Naples. In modern times, the eagle appeared in the symbols of Napoleonic France, the Russian Empire, Germany, Poland, and Austria.

In the United States, the choice of the bald eagle (the American condor is not a true eagle but a bird of prey from another family) as a national symbol was also influenced by the Roman tradition, particularly by the republican values the U.S. sought to revive.

The inspiration for this sculpture came from the film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, which depicts the Roman Empire and the importance of military symbols — especially the eagle — in Roman culture.

The historical sculptures of the legionary eagle were gilded and made with precious metals. While metals were once rare and valuable, today we are surrounded by consumer goods in disposable packaging. I chose to coat my sculpture with recycled metal from industrial products such as beer caps and used cans. The design of the original products remains visible and integrates into the sculpture’s form, illustrating the hidden beauty within the everyday objects we take for granted.