That’s true. I also believe the Justinian statue might be 90% spolia and 10% original work, (if that’s the correct term for it). But I would Like to give Byzantine craftsmen more appreciation. I think pieces such as ivory works and the roundel I showed makes me think they’re capable enough to produce busts or statues. Especially when you basically inhabit a whole open museum with an immense collection of antique works you can use as reference. It surprises me that the vanity of rich nobles and emperors would only produce relief and mosaic art.

But I think you might be right that it is only Concentrated in Constantinople and that it’s buried beneath the Istanbul streets.. never to be found.