This is the best known object in the Roman Baths collection and has fascinated scholars and the public since its discovery during the digging of foundations for the Grand Pump Room in 1790.

A missing block was found during excavations beneath the Pump Room in 1982. As a work of art the quality of workmanship is exceptional for Roman Britain and it is now generally recognised that it is probably the work of sculptors from Gaul (now modern France) in the later first century AD. Its discovery confirmed that the Roman site at Bath was unusual and attracted special interest to the site. Many other discoveries since have now confirmed this view.