Editing Maxentius (section)

===Discovery of Imperial insignia===
In December 2006, Italian archaeologists announced that an excavation under a shrine near the [[Palatine Hill]] had unearthed several items in wooden boxes, which they identified as the imperial ''[[regalia]]'', possibly belonging to Maxentius.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I segni del potere : realtà e immaginario della sovranità nella Roma imperiale |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/749781864 |access-date=2022-08-23 |website=worldcat.org}}</ref> The items in these boxes, which were wrapped in linen and what appears to be [[silk]], include three complete lances, four javelins, what appears to be a base for standards, and three glass and [[chalcedony]] spheres. The most important find was a [[sceptre]] of a flower holding a blue-green globe, which is believed to have belonged to the Emperor himself because of its intricate workmanship, and has been dated to his rule.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chnpress.com/news/?section=2&id=7022 |title=Scepter from Roman Emperor Exhibited |access-date=2009-03-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012173415/http://www.chnpress.com/news/?section=2&id=7022 |archive-date=2007-10-12 }}</ref>

These are the only known imperial insignia so far recovered, which hitherto had only been known from representations on coins and in relief sculptures. Clementina Panella, the archaeologist who made the discovery, states that "These artifacts clearly belonged to the emperor, especially the sceptre, which is very elaborate. It's not an item you would let someone else have." Panella notes that the insignia were likely hidden by Maxentius' supporters in an attempt to preserve the emperor's memory after he was defeated at the [[Battle of the Milvian Bridge]] by Constantine.<ref>[https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article1303241.ece ''The Times'', online edition]</ref> The items have been restored and are on temporary display at the [[Museo Nazionale Romano]] at the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme.