DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5253#0691
PORTRAIT STATUARY. 653
Rome with his gorgeous portraits, sometimes colossal statues. These were of
gold and silver in the Capitol, where only those of a prescribed weight were
admitted, and we are told that the streets were not wide enough for the never-
ceasing passage of sacrificial beasts to be offered before these images of the
emperor. To these figures of deified emperors, were, besides, brought incense
and wine ; and thither the persecuted fled for asylum. Such imperial portrait-
statues were found, moreover, not in Rome alone, but in every city. When
Pliny the younger bought new lands, he found so many of these images upon
them, that he obtained permission from Trajan to build a new temple at Como
for their reception, and added that of Trajan to the number. In Tarraco, in
Spain, a prominent man was purposely elected to keep in order the statues of
the deified Hadrian. More than a hundred years after the death of Marcus
Aurelius, his figures were seen in the possession of many families, among the
household gods, so greatly was he beloved. The Antonincs were to be seen,
even in all places of business, and in workshops, but often most rudely carved.
Special temples were also erected to the whole sacred number of emperors, in
which the entire cycle in portrait-figures was represented ; and, as the number
increased, fresh statues were constantly added.
Members of the royal family, the empress, the heir-apparent, and even the
favorites of the ruler, were often thus honored, and their portraits made objects
of worship. Hadrian put up portrait-figures of his heir, A. Verus, in all the
empire; and the extent of the cult of Hadrian's favorite Antinous is well
known. On the accession to the throne of a new emperor, it was customary
to have portrait-statues erected to his deceased relatives. Antoninus Pius will-
ingly accepted statues, decreed by the senate to his departed grandparents,
father, mother, and brother; and Marcus Aurelius honored with statues even
the friends of his parents after their death. In like manner, Severus put up
images to his deceased ancestors, as well as to his first wife. As an illustra-
tion of the extent to which this honor was conferred upon court officials, may
be mentioned the case of Severus' favorite, Plautianus, to whom so many more,
and larger, portrait-statues were erected, in and out of Rome, than to the em-
peror himself, that at last it aroused the jealousy of the latter, and caused the
fall of this courtier. For his teacher, Fronto, Marcus Aurelius requested of
the senate one statue; and for another, several. Rulers of provinces also came
in for a share in honorary portrait-statues. Cicero writes, that in Kilikia he
had refused "statues, temples, and quadriga:." Verres obliged the communes
of Sicily to erect statues not only to himself, but to his father, and son, a mere
lad; and so great was their number, that they seemed to equal what he had
carried off of older works. In Rome were to be seen gilded bronze equestrian
statues to Verres, put up by Roman merchants. Sub-officials in the provinces,
and successful military men, were frequently rewarded by statues in public
squares ; and private individuals often received a like honor from their fellow-
Rome with his gorgeous portraits, sometimes colossal statues. These were of
gold and silver in the Capitol, where only those of a prescribed weight were
admitted, and we are told that the streets were not wide enough for the never-
ceasing passage of sacrificial beasts to be offered before these images of the
emperor. To these figures of deified emperors, were, besides, brought incense
and wine ; and thither the persecuted fled for asylum. Such imperial portrait-
statues were found, moreover, not in Rome alone, but in every city. When
Pliny the younger bought new lands, he found so many of these images upon
them, that he obtained permission from Trajan to build a new temple at Como
for their reception, and added that of Trajan to the number. In Tarraco, in
Spain, a prominent man was purposely elected to keep in order the statues of
the deified Hadrian. More than a hundred years after the death of Marcus
Aurelius, his figures were seen in the possession of many families, among the
household gods, so greatly was he beloved. The Antonincs were to be seen,
even in all places of business, and in workshops, but often most rudely carved.
Special temples were also erected to the whole sacred number of emperors, in
which the entire cycle in portrait-figures was represented ; and, as the number
increased, fresh statues were constantly added.
Members of the royal family, the empress, the heir-apparent, and even the
favorites of the ruler, were often thus honored, and their portraits made objects
of worship. Hadrian put up portrait-figures of his heir, A. Verus, in all the
empire; and the extent of the cult of Hadrian's favorite Antinous is well
known. On the accession to the throne of a new emperor, it was customary
to have portrait-statues erected to his deceased relatives. Antoninus Pius will-
ingly accepted statues, decreed by the senate to his departed grandparents,
father, mother, and brother; and Marcus Aurelius honored with statues even
the friends of his parents after their death. In like manner, Severus put up
images to his deceased ancestors, as well as to his first wife. As an illustra-
tion of the extent to which this honor was conferred upon court officials, may
be mentioned the case of Severus' favorite, Plautianus, to whom so many more,
and larger, portrait-statues were erected, in and out of Rome, than to the em-
peror himself, that at last it aroused the jealousy of the latter, and caused the
fall of this courtier. For his teacher, Fronto, Marcus Aurelius requested of
the senate one statue; and for another, several. Rulers of provinces also came
in for a share in honorary portrait-statues. Cicero writes, that in Kilikia he
had refused "statues, temples, and quadriga:." Verres obliged the communes
of Sicily to erect statues not only to himself, but to his father, and son, a mere
lad; and so great was their number, that they seemed to equal what he had
carried off of older works. In Rome were to be seen gilded bronze equestrian
statues to Verres, put up by Roman merchants. Sub-officials in the provinces,
and successful military men, were frequently rewarded by statues in public
squares ; and private individuals often received a like honor from their fellow-