A Roman marble head-portrait of the young Commodus

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This young head-portrait sculpture captures Commodus at a pivotal age. Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus, commonly known simply as Commodus, was the son of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger, and the last member of the powerful Antonine dynasty of Roman emperors. He seized the Imperial throne at eighteen years old after his father's death in 180 A.D. and quickly developed a notorious reputation for megalomania and depraved behavior. As his reign drew to a close, he re-founded Rome, renaming it 'Colonia Commodiana,' and had the months renamed after his various titles. Following several attempts on his life, Commodus was finally strangled during a coup orchestrated by members of the Praetorian Guard, the Imperial household, and his favorite concubine Marcia in 192 A.D. Despite receiving the posthumous penalty of damnatio memoriae, Commodus was celebrated for his divine honors bestowed upon him by his successor Septimius Severus. Many statues of Commodus were created during Severus' rule (193-211), modeled after those produced in Rome during the final five years of Commodus' life. Official portraits of Commodus have been categorized into five distinct types. This portrait belongs to the first type, depicting him as Crown Prince and successor to his father Marcus Aurelius at fourteen to sixteen years old. The finest example of this type originates from the Villa of Antoninus Pius in Lanuvium, crafted between 175-177 A.D., as noted by D.E.E. Kleiner in Roman Sculpture (New Haven, 1992), pages 273-275, figure 241. According to Kleiner, the artist's depiction of Commodus' hair is a remarkable achievement, as is the rest of the portrait, which successfully captures the boy's arrogant expression.