Gallienus at The Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris

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Gallienus ruled as Roman Emperor alongside his father Valerian from 253 to 260, then solo from 260 until 268. He navigated the Crisis of the Third Century, a period that nearly led to the collapse of the empire. Despite achieving several military victories, Gallienus failed to prevent the secession of key provinces. Historians initially viewed him unfavorably due to Gaul and Palmyra's secession and his inability to regain control over them. However, modern scholars like Pat Southern now see Gallienus in a more positive light. He implemented beneficial reforms during his reign. As the first emperor to commission primarily cavalry units, known as Comitatenses, Gallienus enabled rapid deployment of troops across the empire. This innovation set a precedent for future emperors Diocletian and Constantine I. According to biographer Aurelius Victor, Gallienus prohibited senators from holding military command positions. This move reduced senatorial influence, allowing more reliable equestrian commanders to rise to prominence. Southern believes that these reforms and the decline of senatorial power not only contributed to Aurelian's success in salvaging the empire but also make Gallienus one of the key emperors responsible for establishing the Dominate, alongside Septimius Severus, Diocletian, and Constantine I. Gallienus' legacy is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory. This project aims to create a digital archive of 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort where contributors can email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how to participate. The object in question was scanned using photogrammetry and processed with Agisoft PhotoScan.