The Lion of Chaeronea

Sestertius of the Roman emperor Gaius, better known as Caligula (r. 37-41 CE). This coin highlights the exceptional honors Gaius bestowed upon his three sisters. While the obverse features the traditional laureate bust of the emperor, the reverse features his sisters together, each identified with the personification of a Roman virtue: Agrippina as Securitas, Drusilla as Concordia, and Julia as Fortuna. Each sister holds a cornucopia to demonstrate abundance, while Drusilla also holds a patera (flat serving dish used in Roman religious rites) and Julia holds a rudder (to symbolize safe guidance of the ship of state). Photo credit: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com

Didrachm of the Roman emperor Claudius (r. 41-54 CE), found at Caesarea in Cappadocia (modern Türkiye). This coin was struck to commemorate Claudius' invasion and (partial) conquest of Britain in 43. On the obverse, the bust of Claudius, crowned with laurel. On the reverse, the emperor drives a triumphal quadriga (four-horse chariot), with the inscription DE BRITANNIS (From the Britons) below. Photo credit: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com

Marble head from an over-life-size statue, representing the Empress Livia as Ceres, goddess of fields and grain. Artist unknown; 30-50 CE (Julio-Claudian). From Sicily; now in the British Museum. Photo credit: Carole Raddato.

Ancient Roman portrait bust (bronze with silver inlay) of a young boy, claimed by some to depict the young Nero. Artist unknown; ca. 50-68 CE (late Julio-Claudian period). Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Portrait head of either Gaius (20 BCE-4 CE) or Lucius (17 BCE-2 CE) Caesar. Gaius and Lucius, grandsons of the Emperor Augustus (born to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia), were adopted by Augustus as his joint heirs following the deaths of his previous heirs-designate, Marcellus and Agrippa. Their untimely deaths devastated Augustus and led to his settling on the unhappy choice of his stepson Tiberius as his successor. Found in the National Garden of Athens; now in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens. Photo credit: Carole Raddato.

A pastoral landscape. Wall painting in the Third Pompeian Style from the Villa of Agrippa Postumus at Boscotrecase, artist unknown; between 10 and 20 CE. Now in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples.

A maenad and a satyr (?) engaged in revels honoring Dionysus/Bacchus. Ancient Roman terracotta relief plaque, artist unknown; 27 BCE - 68 CE (Julio-Claudian). Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ancient Roman terracotta plaque (Julio-Claudian period) depicting a mythological couple, tentatively identified as Pelops and Hippodamia, in a chariot. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Marble bust of Drusus the Elder, aka Nero Claudius Drusus Germanicus (38-9 BCE), stepson of Augustus, brother of the future emperor Tiberius, and successful general who campaigned in Germany before his untimely death (caused by aftereffects from a fall from his horse). Now in the Altes Museum, Berlin. Photo credit: © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / CC BY-SA 4.0.

Marble statue of a member of the Roman imperial family. Artist unknown; 27 BCE - 68 CE (Julio-Claudian). Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Statue of the Roman emperor Claudius (r. 41-54 CE).  Found at Gabii (Pontano); now in the Louvre.

Marble portrait bust of the Roman emperor Tiberius (r. 14-37 CE).  Artist unknown; 1st cent. CE.  Found at Ephesus; now in the Ephesus Archaeological Museum.  Photo credit: Sandstein/Wikimedia Commons.

Glass intaglio of a member of the Julio-Claudian imperial family.  Artist unknown; 1st or 2nd cent. CE.  Now in the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.  Photo credit: Walters Art Museum.

Bronze portrait bust of a Roman matron, possibly Agrippina the Elder, wife of Germanicus and mother of the emperor Gaius (Caligula).  Artist unknown; ca. 20-50 CE.  Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Bronze portrait head of the Roman emperor Gaius, aka Caligula (r. 37-41 CE).  Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Portrait of the Roman emperor Nero (r. 54-68 CE), found in the Julian Basilica at the eastern end of the Roman-era forum of Corinth.  Artist unknown; ca. 60 CE.  Now in the Archaeological Museum of Ancient Corinth.   Photo credit: Carole Raddato.

Denarius of the Roman emperor Tiberius (r. 14-37 CE), depicting him crowned with a laurel wreath; the inscription identifies him as divi Augusti filius (”son of the deified Augustus”).  Now in the Yorkshire Museum.  Photo credit: York Museums Trust.