How do we visually recover the faces of Rome's lost rulers?
Using coins, busts, and ancient texts, artist Daniel Voshart has reconstructed the portraits of 54 Roman Emperors. This interview explores the technical challenges of recreating historical likenesses and the surprising results found within the archaeological record.
The reconstruction project spans the era from Augustus Caesar to the later reign of Maximinus Thrax. By synthesizing written descriptions with physical artifacts like coins and sculptures, Voshart attempts to bridge the gap between fragmented history and visual reality.
The discussion, featuring historian Joshua J. Mark, examines which emperors matched our modern historical imaginations and which defied them. It offers a unique look at the Roman Empire through the lens of physical reconstruction and the difficulties of interpreting ancient resources.
Source: Reconstructing 54 Roman Emperors, with Daniel Voshart and Joshua J. Mark
