Portrait Head of Caligula

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The Roman Emperor Gaius, famously known as Caligula, held power from A.D. 37 to 41 and left a trail of discontent. His brutal end saw nearly all his likenesses annihilated. With a rich history of portraiture, the Romans crafted images that served not just as personal representations but also as powerful tools for disseminating propaganda. The faces of emperors were merged with carefully curated messages, creating a symbiosis between appearance and politics. Official portraits of Caligula portray a young man with an elevated forehead, a diminutive mouth, and slender lips. His individuality shines through, yet his hairstyle mimics that of Augustus, making a deliberate nod to their familial connection and his rightful claim to the throne. The emperor's depiction in these official images bears no resemblance to the harsh descriptions left behind by Roman writers like Suetonius.