Gaius Marius (157-86 BC.)

This bronze statue of Gaius Marius stands in the small piazza of his home town Arpino. Gaius was elected Consul of Rome seven times. Reformed the army of Rome into a streamlined fighting force. Defeated the Teutons and Cimbri in the North, taking some 200.000 prisoners, and defeated the North African/Carthiginian leader Jugurtha in the South. He was one of the founding fathers of the Roman Empire. He took his nephew Julius Caesar under his wing and taught him the art of warfare. He was also a priest of the temple of Jupiter and a renowned magican.