DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15091#0043
PLATE X.
A colossal bust of Lucius Verus, who became joint Emperor with
Marcus Aurelius in the year of Christ 161. The Roman empire,
upon the death of Antoninus Pius, had devolved to Marcus
Aurelius solely ;(i) he however chose to invest Lucius Verus with
an equal share in the imperial dignity; and Rome was then, for
the first time, under the dominion of two sovereigns.(2) The
characters of these emperors were perfectly dissimilar. Marcus
Aurelius exerted himself unremittingly for the general interest of
the Roman people, and was distinguished for the purity of his
morals, and the encouragement he gave to learning; while Lucius
Verus paid but little attention to the affairs of the state, and passed
all his time in indolence, extravagance, and debauchery. The latter
died of an apoplexy, at Altinum,{3) on his return from Germany,
in the year 169, and in the 39th or 40th year of his age; and was
buried in the tomb of Hadrian.(4)
The bust is covered with the imperial paludamentum.(5) The fea-
tures agree with the description which Julius Capitolinus has given
1 Defuncto Pio Marcus in eum [L. Vcrurn] omnia contulit, principatu etiam impera-
torias potestatis indulto: sibique consortem fecit, quum illi soli senatus detulisset
imperium. Jul. Capitol, in vita L. Veri, c. 3.
1 Tuncque primum Romanum imperium duos Augustos habere coepit. Jul. Capitol,
in vita M. Aurelii, c. 7-
3 Sed non longe ab Altino subito in vebiculo morbo, qucm apoplexin vocant, correptus
Lucius, depositus e vehiculo, detracto sanguine Altinum perductus, quum triduo mutus
vixisset, apud Altinum perit. Jul. Capitol, in vita L. Veri, c. 9.
* Illatumque ejus corpus est Adriani sepulchro, in quo et Caesar pater ejus naturalis
sepultus est. Jul. Capitol, in vita L. Veri, all-
5 Paludamentum erat insigne pallium Imperatorum, cocco purpuraque ct auro dis-
tinctum. Isidori Etymol. lib. xix. c. 24.
Paluda a paludamentis: sunt liEec insignia et ornamenta militaria. Ideo ad bellum
cum exit imperator, ac lictores mutant vestem, et signa incinuerunt, paludatus dicitur
proficisci: quae propterea quod conspiciuntur qui ea habent, ac fiunt palam, paludamenta
dicta. Varro de Lingua Latina, lib. vi. 22.
A colossal bust of Lucius Verus, who became joint Emperor with
Marcus Aurelius in the year of Christ 161. The Roman empire,
upon the death of Antoninus Pius, had devolved to Marcus
Aurelius solely ;(i) he however chose to invest Lucius Verus with
an equal share in the imperial dignity; and Rome was then, for
the first time, under the dominion of two sovereigns.(2) The
characters of these emperors were perfectly dissimilar. Marcus
Aurelius exerted himself unremittingly for the general interest of
the Roman people, and was distinguished for the purity of his
morals, and the encouragement he gave to learning; while Lucius
Verus paid but little attention to the affairs of the state, and passed
all his time in indolence, extravagance, and debauchery. The latter
died of an apoplexy, at Altinum,{3) on his return from Germany,
in the year 169, and in the 39th or 40th year of his age; and was
buried in the tomb of Hadrian.(4)
The bust is covered with the imperial paludamentum.(5) The fea-
tures agree with the description which Julius Capitolinus has given
1 Defuncto Pio Marcus in eum [L. Vcrurn] omnia contulit, principatu etiam impera-
torias potestatis indulto: sibique consortem fecit, quum illi soli senatus detulisset
imperium. Jul. Capitol, in vita L. Veri, c. 3.
1 Tuncque primum Romanum imperium duos Augustos habere coepit. Jul. Capitol,
in vita M. Aurelii, c. 7-
3 Sed non longe ab Altino subito in vebiculo morbo, qucm apoplexin vocant, correptus
Lucius, depositus e vehiculo, detracto sanguine Altinum perductus, quum triduo mutus
vixisset, apud Altinum perit. Jul. Capitol, in vita L. Veri, c. 9.
* Illatumque ejus corpus est Adriani sepulchro, in quo et Caesar pater ejus naturalis
sepultus est. Jul. Capitol, in vita L. Veri, all-
5 Paludamentum erat insigne pallium Imperatorum, cocco purpuraque ct auro dis-
tinctum. Isidori Etymol. lib. xix. c. 24.
Paluda a paludamentis: sunt liEec insignia et ornamenta militaria. Ideo ad bellum
cum exit imperator, ac lictores mutant vestem, et signa incinuerunt, paludatus dicitur
proficisci: quae propterea quod conspiciuntur qui ea habent, ac fiunt palam, paludamenta
dicta. Varro de Lingua Latina, lib. vi. 22.