Female Portrait

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During the last quarter of the first century AD and early decades of the second century AD, the ladies of the imperial court showcased increasingly intricate hairstyles. Hairpieces with added hair and concealed frameworks formed high, diadem-like structures that framed their faces. One such elaborate construction is visible in official portraits of Marciana, Trajan's elder sister. The polished finish and engraved eyes on this headpiece suggest it was crafted during Hadrianic times. The powerful women of Trajan's family held significant influence with his successor, Hadrian, who owed his throne to their esteemed position. As a matter of fact, Marciana was the grandmother of Hadrian's wife, Sabina.