THE BUST OF COMMODUSTHE BUST OF COMMODUS

WHO WAS COMMODUS…?WHO WAS COMMODUS…? Commodus was the son of Marcus Aurelius.Commodus was the son of Marcus Aurelius. a brutal emperor for 12 years (180 AD – 192 AD) .a brutal emperor for 12 years (180 AD – 192 AD) . he was assassinated (strangled) at the age of 31. he was assassinated (strangled) at the age of 31. an interesting character of questionable sanity. an interesting character of questionable sanity. Wheeler calls him a “sadistic pervert”. Wheeler calls him a “sadistic pervert”. he was a decadent, self-indulgent, deranged he was a decadent, self-indulgent, deranged

megalomaniac.megalomaniac. had a fondness for gladiatorial games often taking had a fondness for gladiatorial games often taking

part in the animal hunts (dressed as Hercules). part in the animal hunts (dressed as Hercules). his blatant self-heroization here in this piece is his blatant self-heroization here in this piece is

quite extraordinary.quite extraordinary.

THE PIECE IN A NUTSHELLTHE PIECE IN A NUTSHELL He wears a lion skin. He wears a lion skin. Commodus is shown with a Commodus is shown with a

beard and moustache.beard and moustache. He holds a knotted club in He holds a knotted club in

his right hand. his right hand. In his left hand he holds In his left hand he holds

three apples. three apples. Two cornucopiae full of fruit Two cornucopiae full of fruit

hold up the bust. hold up the bust. Between the cornucopiae is Between the cornucopiae is

an Amazon shield which is an Amazon shield which is decorated with Medusa’s decorated with Medusa’s head.head.

There is a sphere with a There is a sphere with a band across the middle of it band across the middle of it with three Zodiac signs. It is with three Zodiac signs. It is it also has four rosettes.it also has four rosettes.

An Amazonian warrior kneels An Amazonian warrior kneels on either side of a sphere.on either side of a sphere.

Commodus saw himself asCommodus saw himself asa bit of a Hercules…a bit of a Hercules… He was often portrayed on He was often portrayed on

coins and in inscriptions as the coins and in inscriptions as the hero. Hercules’ worship was hero. Hercules’ worship was popular in Rome. popular in Rome.

The comparison with Hercules in The comparison with Hercules in thisthis

bust is obvious:bust is obvious: The club was a weapon of The club was a weapon of

choice for the hero.choice for the hero. The apples allude to Hercules’ The apples allude to Hercules’

immortality which Commodus immortality which Commodus regarded as his due after regarded as his due after subduing the enemies of Rome. subduing the enemies of Rome.

The lion skin represents power The lion skin represents power and strength.and strength.

The Amazon warrior relates to The Amazon warrior relates to the fact that Commodus had the fact that Commodus had also defeated the Sarmatians also defeated the Sarmatians who lived in the same are as who lived in the same are as the Amazonians had. the Amazonians had.

Hercules’ labours represented Hercules’ labours represented here are…here are…

First labourFirst labour The killing of the The killing of the

Nemean lion from Nemean lion from whose whose (impenetrable) skin (impenetrable) skin he made a cloak.he made a cloak.

Ninth labourNinth labour Obtaining the Obtaining the

girdle of the girdle of the Amazon queen Amazon queen Hippolyta & the Hippolyta & the subsequent defeat subsequent defeat of the Amazons.of the Amazons.

Eleventh labourEleventh labour The theft of the The theft of the

golden apples from golden apples from a tree at the a tree at the world’s end, world’s end, guarded by a guarded by a dragon (Ladon) dragon (Ladon) which he slew.which he slew.

BUT WAIT…BUT WAIT…

WHAT ABOUT THE WHAT ABOUT THE FEATURES OF THE SET FEATURES OF THE SET

PIECEPIECE

HairHair - deeply drilled beard - deeply drilled beard and hair creates shadows and hair creates shadows

- rhythmical waves in - rhythmical waves in hair,hair,

- full beard gives sense - full beard gives sense of of imperial majesty,imperial majesty, - contrast between deeply - contrast between deeply

modelled hair and modelled hair and smooth smooth texture of face.texture of face.

EyesEyes - are not painted but - are not painted but have have rings incised into the rings incised into the iris,iris,

- heavy upper eye lids - heavy upper eye lids droop over the iris,droop over the iris,- eyes are upturned and - eyes are upturned and gaze to one side (our gaze to one side (our

left).left).

Mouth Mouth - short but full lower lip - short but full lower lip with a moustache above the lip,with a moustache above the lip, - the mouth is turned - the mouth is turned down.down.

WHAT STYLE IS THIS IN?WHAT STYLE IS THIS IN?

Antonine Baroque style Antonine Baroque style

smooth highly polished skin which gives a smooth highly polished skin which gives a youthful appearance,youthful appearance,

deeply drilled luxurious hair,deeply drilled luxurious hair, contrasts of light & dark areas, powerful contrasts of light & dark areas, powerful

musculature & polished head.musculature & polished head. Commodus was the last of the Antonine's.Commodus was the last of the Antonine's.

WHAT STYLE IS THIS IN?WHAT STYLE IS THIS IN?

SO WHAT IS COMMODUS SO WHAT IS COMMODUS TRYING TO SAY ?TRYING TO SAY ?

The larger than life bust conveys The larger than life bust conveys the message that Commodus is: the message that Commodus is:

a)a) the saviour of mankind,the saviour of mankind,

b)b) worthy of portrayal as worthy of portrayal as Hercules,Hercules,

c)c) a heroic/divine figure, a heroic/divine figure,

d)d) a doer of great deeds. a doer of great deeds.

So there you are.So there you are.

But the questions But the questions remains: remains:

was he mad as a was he mad as a

hatter or just a hatter or just a

looney…?looney…?