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EMPEROR OF THE DAY: commodus Reign: 177 - 192AD “Achievements” : modelled himself on hercules

EMPEROR OF THE DAY: commodus Reign: 177 - 192AD “Achievements” : modelled himself on hercules came after “five good emperors” destroyed his predecessors’ good works. THE BUST OF COMMODUS AS HERCULES. Date : 190AD Height : 1.18m Material : Marble Style : Idealised/Antonine Baroque

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EMPEROR OF THE DAY: commodus Reign: 177 - 192AD “Achievements” : modelled himself on hercules

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  1. EMPEROR OF THE DAY: • commodus • Reign: 177 - 192AD • “Achievements”: • modelled himself on hercules • came after “five good emperors” • destroyed his predecessors’ good works

  2. THE BUST OF COMMODUS AS HERCULES

  3. Date: 190AD • Height: 1.18m • Material: Marble • Style: Idealised/Antonine Baroque • What influenced this style? Greek portraiture showing ideal/perfect form. • Historical Background: • Son of Marcus Aurelius • Reign 177-192AD • Saw himself as incarnation of Hercules • Rule marked by vicious brutality • Destroyed achievements of 5 Good Emperors – civil war followed.

  4. Subject Matter The lion skin & the club=Hercules (Commodus’ alter-ego) – his courage and strength the golden apples of Hesperides = wealth/ immortality the shield supporting the bust has a gorgon’s head = Perseus another hero highlighting Commodus’ power over the supernatural The cornucopiae, “horns of plenty”=Commodus brings fertility & prosperity to Rome = Augustus the Amazon = another labour of Hercules – where he defeats barbarians (in his last years Commodus assumed the name Amazonius = magalomaniac) the globe having signs of the zodiac symbolising Commodius’ power over the earth/heavens

  5. Style The pupils of the eyes are incised Elaborately drilled hair and beard – over barbered? The body, arms and face are polished and smooth Heavy (sleepy?) eyelids Arms – weak? Hands - manicured?

  6. Is this some kind of a joke? “The smooth and effeminate Emperor, with his weak arms, his flaccid feeble face and over barbered hair ... the lion-scalp and club … in that tenuous manicured hand, is a delicate but brutally expressive charade” - M. Wheeler

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