What historical stone sculptures were repurposed as political symbols?
Throughout history, stone sculptures have often been repurposed as political symbols to convey power, ideology, or cultural dominance. One notable example is the Roman practice of reusing statues of defeated leaders, altering their features to represent new rulers—a tactic known as *damnatio memoriae*. Similarly, ancient Egyptian obelisks were transported to Rome and later to other Western capitals, serving as symbols of imperial conquest. In modern times, the Buddhas of Bamiyan, though destroyed, became a global emblem of resistance against cultural erasure. Even the Parthenon Marbles, controversially housed in the British Museum, are debated as political artifacts of colonial legacy. These repurposed sculptures reveal how art is weaponized to shape historical narratives and assert authority.
