Pieces of a giant, detailed statue of the Roman emperor Hadrian have been unearthed at an archeological dig in the ancient city of Sagalassos, in south-central Turkey.

A foot, part of a leg and an exquisitely carved head have been discovered this week, all believed to be from a larger-than-life statue of Hadrian, who ruled Rome from 117 to 138 AD.

The discovery was made by archeologists from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, who have been investigating the site of an ancient Greco-Roman city called Sagalassos since 1990.

This was one of the "most beautiful depictions" of the emperor ever found, said Marc Waelkens, director of the excavation.

More of the marble statue, standing four to five metres, is expected to be uncovered as archeologists dig on the site of a former bathhouse, which was buried in an earthquake in the 6th or 7th century.

The elaborate carving of a sandal on the foot, which is 80 centimetres long, indicated the statue was of an emperor, Waelkens said.

When the head, measuring 70 centimetres, was uncovered on Monday, archeologists identified the statue as Hadrian.

The larger-than-life figure was built in sections, which came apart in the earthquake and are buried under five metres of earth.

Hadrian, known as one of Rome's "five good emperors" was a skilled administrator who ruled during a time of relative peace.

He took steps to consolidate Rome's grip on its far-flung kingdom, including building Hadrian's Wall in Britain as a way of repelling raiding tribes.

Construction of the bath complex in Sagalassos was started during Hadrian's reign, and the statue probably dates from the beginning of his rule.

The city had a sanctuary of the imperial cult dedicated to Hadrian and his successor Antoninus Pius.

Archeologists have also found the toes of another statue, possibly of Hadrian's wife Sabina.