Tiberius Emperor Bust
Tiberius Iulius Caesar Augustus (before adoption by Augustus: Tiberius Claudius Nero).
* 16. November 42 B.C. in Rome; † 16. March 37 A.D. at Cape Misenum
reign: 14 to 37 AD
Bust of Tiberius
Often portrayed quite negatively by ancient historians and controversial as a personality in modern historical research, Tiberius, unloved adopted son of Octavian / Augustus, the second "emperor" of Rome, illustrates how much one's personality propaganda can deviate from the real perception in Roman antiquity. His portrait is overshadowed by his stepfather, even though he resembled him only slightly in politics and character. The bust of Tiberius proves how extremely important the tradition of descent was for the Romans and what an important role the virtues expressed through this imagery played in everyday Roman life.
- Tiberius bust height: ca.14 cm
- black marble base
The portrait of Tiberius
The Julio-Claudian pictorial tradition did not allow Tiberius to deviate too much from the image of Augustus in his portraits. The latter had created a completely new type of ruler's portrait during his reign. Instead of the late republican veristic portraits with strong age features, he created the ideal of the young and dynamic emperor. Until his death, despite his old age, he was always depicted as a young man. Tiberius could not escape this image scheme, even though he was already 55 years old when he came to power. The young state structure was too shaky, his popularity with the people and the Senate too low, and the succession without direct blood relationship too vulnerable. Thus he largely continued the ageless portraiture of his stepfather, with only a few portraits showing him with signs of age.
Tiberius with the civic crown
The replica of the Tiberius portrait from our store is special in many ways: Tiberius is not shown in his main type, but with clearly recognizable features of age, although hairstyle and face clearly transmit the portrait type of Augustus. The head, as can be seen on the shoulders and chest, belonged to an armored statue showing the princeps in his function as commander. Such a representation represented the virtus , the strength, of the person shown. The wreath on his head, the corona civica the civic crown, was considered a military dignity until the imperial period, awarded to soldiers who had saved the life of a comrade.
Since Augustus, this headgear has symbolically stood for the princeps, who protects the entire Roman people. Tiberius tried to represent the most important virtues through this imagery, at the same time clearly indicating his lineage and thus his legitimacy to rule. Purchase a replica of this extraordinary Tiberius bust made of alabaster stucco on a base of polished marble and bring with it the exceptionally complex and meaningful imagery of Roman antiquity to your home.
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