Bust of Comm odus c. AD 190

But first...a list of Emperors Julio-Claudian dynasty  Augustus 27BC- AD14  Tiberius AD  Caligula AD37 – 41  Claudius AD  Nero AD Year of 4 emperors (AD 68 –AD69)  Galba  Otho  Vitellius Flavian Dynasty  Vespasian AD69-79  Titus AD79-81  Domitian AD Trajanic Dynasty  Nerva AD96-98  Trajan AD  Hadrian AD Antonine Dynasty  Antoninus Pius AD  Marcus Aurelius AD  Lucis Verus AD  Commodus AD Severan dynasty  (11 emperors) Emperors during the height of crisis AD  Philip the Arabian  Many others (constant change)  Constantine AD

Bust of Commodus Fact File  Date: AD 190  Height: 1.18M  Material: Marble  Style: Antonine Baroque  What does this style actually mean?  What influenced this style? Greek portraiture showing ideal/perfect form

Details about Bust of Commodus  Which mythical hero does Commodus imitate in this statue and why? The demi-god Heracles/Hercules. Compares himself with Hercules because he sees himself as becoming a god. The demi-god Heracles/Hercules. Compares himself with Hercules because he sees himself as becoming a god.

Bust of Commodus Write information for the following questions in a box on the first page of your handout Write information for the following questions in a box on the first page of your handout  What other figures originally accompanied the Bust of Commodus? (describe from p87)  What do the other figures indicate about Commodus?

Symbolism  Add the key features outlined on page two of the handout to the image (point them out). Use the text pages to find the relevant information. You will need to write small - there is quite a lot to add. You will need to write small - there is quite a lot to add.

Symbol: Hercules club. Here is smaller than Hercules, more a prop than a weapon Symbol: Hercules lion skin (from the 1 st of the 12 labours, killing the Nemean Lion) Hercules’ lionskin represents power, courage and strength. The lionskin also serves as a decorative framework for the polished head. Through being depicted as Hercules, Commodus is claiming superhuman abilities: Strength Power Immortality Divinity like Hercules

Amazon shield Amazon woman Cornucopia ‘horn of plenty’ Orb of the world

Symbol: Apples of the Hesperides. (the 11 th labour) Stolen from the tree at the world’s end. Tree was guarded by the dragon, Ladon and by the Hesperides (the daughter’s of night and Erebus). Apples represent immortality. Commodus believed he deserved this for defeating Rome’s enemy. Symbolism: Why the Amazons? Allude to the 9th labour of Hercules. He stole the girdle from the Amazon Queen Hippolyte Commodus defeated Rome’s enemy who lived in the place the Amazons once did. There Should be an Amazon woman on both sides, but it is broken off.

Symbol: Cornucopiae, a ‘horn of plenty’ full of fruit, representing prosperity, fertility and abundance. Represents the new golden age that Commodus has brought Symbol: ‘Orbis Terrarum’ (orb of the world) Has a band across it, which shows signs of the zodiac, taurus (bull), capricorn (goat), and scorpio (scorpion) – important dates in the reign of Commodus. Symbol: Rosettes on orbis terrarum (orb of the world) represent stars Amazon shield has the head of a Gorgon. Reference to Perseus who cut off the Gorgon’s head and gave it to Athena, who placed it on her shield

The eyes - incised ring for the iris, heavy eyelids droop over iris. His head is turned to his right, an arrogant attitude, turns his head away from the viewer Eyes upturned with arched eyebrows. All combines to create a sense of Sleepy Sensuality Polished marble gives a strong youthful appearance.

Antonine Baroque style This image has characteristics of his father, Marcus Aurelius– The elaborate curled hair & heavy eyelids. His hair: deeply drilled, detailed has contrasts of light and dark areas, to create shadows on the work. His hair contrasts with the smooth highly polished skin – creating a theatrical effect The textured hairy paws of the lion skin contrast the polished smooth musculature of his torso Shows him as powerful, arrogant, god-like, idealised.

Style – Antonine Baroque

Interesting Megalomaniac Facts Called himself ‘Amazonius’ in his Last years (victor over the Amazons). His reign was marked by vicious brutality and decadent self-indulgence. He thought he was an incarnation of the god Hercules. Fought as a gladiator in the arena, dressed as Hercules. This bust was created while he was still alive. Destroyed the social and political stability that Rome had experienced for 60 years After his death Rome went into civil war