The toga wrapped around this figure reveals his priestly status. He carries a rolled-up scroll in his left hand, another attribute of a priest, further reinforcing his identity. However, without any rank signifying colors, this uniform is indistinguishable from that of a magistrate or even the Pontifex Maximus, the highest-ranking priest in Roman religion. Yet when one considers the treatment of the figure, not the garments, another interpretation arises.The size of the figure’s head is disproportionately emphasized. Alas, with all of his body except his feet hidden behind the elegant folds of the toga, his head becomes his only recognizable feature. Accordingly, the sculptor has attempted to capture the likeness of a specific personage. Certain facial features such as the fleshy cheeks, the prominent chin, and the finely detailed hair that falls out from under his hood onto his forehead, all suggest that this is a unique portrait.Overall, much more than an example of imperial propaganda, this stunning sculpture is a reminder of the sophisticated intertwining roles politics, philosophy, and the arts played during the golden age of Ancient Rome. - (FZ.393)

Antiquities
Ancient Roman