Title
Description
Plaster cast of a marble portrait-bust of Antoninus Pius, Roman Emperor from 138-161 CE. Original is housed in the British Museum. Site of origin is the house of Jason Magnus at Cyrene, North Africa circa 160 CE.
Publication Date
1978
Type of Artwork
Portrait bust
Time Period/Geographical Region
Ancient Rome
Height (cm/in)
71.12 cm / 28 in
Width (cm/in)
33.02 cm / 13 in
Depth (cm/in)
71.12 cm / 28 in
Disciplines
Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity | Sculpture
Recommended Citation
Morehead State University. Camden-Carroll Library., "Antoninus Pius" (1978). Metropolitan Museum of Art Cast Collection. 23.
https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/metropolitan_art_collection/23
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Comments
Antoninus Pius was the emperor of Rome from 138–161 CE. His reign was considered a peaceful and prosperous one. This is one of multiple versions of a standardized portrait bust of the emperor, which was displayed in the home of a high priest of the Temple of Apollo in the North African city of Cyrene. Portrait likenesses of rulers placed throughout the Roman empire were reminders that the emperor was ever present, even in areas far from Rome itself, such as the city of Cyrene. The original version from which this cast was made was probably itself a copy of a prototype created in the 140s.