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

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