The search for the true face of Julius Caesar
In short: We all recognize the Roman dictator's image, but much of what we see might be myth. While many marble busts claim to be his likeness, archaeologists struggle to separate the real man from the many portraits he used to project power.
Identifying the true features of Julius Caesar is a monumental challenge for historians. While Caesar famously used his image to saturate the Roman world with his presence, most surviving marble heads lack any identifying inscriptions. In fact, experts warn that any portrait explicitly labeled with his name is almost certainly a forgery. This lack of labels has led to nearly 80 different heads being identified as Caesar across Europe and the United States.
A significant breakthrough occurred in September 2007, when an archaeologist diving in the Rhône River at Arles discovered a life-sized marble head. This piece, now a star attraction in an Arles museum, is believed by some to have been thrown into the river following Caesar's assassination on the ides of March, 44 B.C., as the political atmosphere turned hostile toward his memory.
Despite the fame of the 'Rhône Caesar,' the only definitive physical evidence of his appearance comes from silver coins minted shortly before his death. These coins depict a thin, weathered face featuring a visible Adam's apple and a wrinkled neck. They also suggest a man conscious of his flaws; his biographer, writing 150 years later, noted that Caesar used laurel wreaths to strategically hide a bald patch he found embarrassing.
The variety of potential portraits is immense, ranging from the Egyptian 'Green Caesar' in Berlin to various other busts. Archaeologists continue the difficult task of attempting to reconcile these three-dimensional sculptures with the small, detailed engravings found on the surviving coinage.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: What did Julius Caesar really look like?
- Also: Will the real Julius Caesar please stand up?
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