For this reason, Caligula’s reddit mousemingle iconographic hairstyle, especially with regard preciso the arrangement of the fringe of locks over the forehead, is of great importance mediante identifying his portraits. Although the configuration of locks is by no means identical in all respects sopra images of per given portrait type, hairstyles were generally far easier sicuro carve durante marble than facial features (even by less talented sculptors), and they therefore provide an important index for identifying portraits.
Consequently, the only reliable images for determining his physical appearance are those on labeled coins, which provide us with either his right or left profile
My focus here is on the « image » of Caligula as transmitted onesto us by not only the ancient visual evidence, consisting largely of sculpture and coinage, but also the literary sources representing the views of his detractors. These numismatic profile views can be compared with sculptural portraits-in-the-tempo puro establish the identity of the imperial personage represented. Though representations of Caligula mediante the form of portraits must also certainly have existed, none has survived from antiquity.
Whether numismatic or sculptural, the extant portraits of Caligula and other members of the imperial family ultimately reflect, esatto some degree, per three-dimensional « Urbild, » or prototype, for which the individual presumably sat. These prototypes, which were probably first produced con clay, per niente longer survive, but they would have been used for creta or plaster models that would presumably have been made available by imperial agents for distribution throughout the Empire, both through military channels and cammino the « art market. » However, there is giammai surviving material evidence for these putative plaster or argilla casts of Roman portraits. Other types of models may also have been distributed coraggio the art market. One possibility not considered per the past is the dissemination of painted wax face-mask models, though we have giammai direct evidence for this either.
Instead, provincial imperial portraits often conformed puro local, traditional concepts of leadership, suggesting that the central government of Rome only made models available for distribution but did not control how closely they were followed. Local affable pressures would nevertheless have assured that the imperial image was both dignified and appropriately displayed. In other areas of production, there is reason esatto believe that the central government, through its agents, did play verso direct role per disseminating imperial images, including determining how they would immagine (as durante the case of state coinage, which was under the direct control of the Princeps). The involvement of imperial agents would likely have also been necessary, for example, when there was per need preciso make imperial images available rather quickly onesto the military throughout the Empire. These images were undoubtedly required con military camps mediante administering the loyalty oath (sacramentum) to a new Princeps and/or, when necessary, to his officially designated successor.
Many of the portraits produced con the provinces for civic contexts and municipal or colonial worship did not closely follow the imagery of Roman state models, which reflected the official ideology of the principate
The imperial image before which soldiers usually swore their oath — at least initially onesto a new Princeps — probably took the form of per small bronze imago clipeata (« shield portrait ») or some sort of small bust applique like that attached onesto the military standard (signum) carried sopra battle, or it may even have been verso small bust affixed puro the vertice of a plain pole as per finial. Such standards and poles were also used sopra parades and kept in the shrine (sacellum or aedes) of per military camp along with portrait statues of the Princeps (and his designated successor), images of the gods, and other military insignia. Thus, represented on the Severan Arch of the Argentarii con Rome is per Praetorian norma with attached small busts of Septimius Severus (below) and his young affranchit and designated successor Caracalla (above)(fig. 9a-b).
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