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The treasures included the Lancellotti Discobolus, now housed at the National Museum of Rome; the Esquiline Venus and a bust of Commodus depicted as Hercules, now at the Capitoline Museums.

Photograph: The Trustees of the British Museum The stunning Discobolus, a classical athlete compressing all his rippling power into one fling of the discus, is among the most famous images from the ancient world.

The ancient Greek sculpture, Discobolus, epitome of the Olympic spirit, is going back on show at the British Museum after four years on display at foreign museums.

In the drawing-room, well placed, is the famous Statue of the Discobolus, a copy of the bronze statue of Myron, found in 1761, upon the Esquiline, near the ruined nymph�um known as the Trophies of Marius.

This is more beautiful and better preserved than the Discobolus of the Vatican, of which the head is modern.