Portrait of Agrippina the Younger

myminifactory

This stunning sculpture depicts a Julio-Claudian princess known as Agrippina, specifically Agrippina the Younger. As a Roman empress and one of the most influential women in the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Agrippina's life was marked by power struggles and ruthless ambition. Born to Germanicus, a renowned general who briefly served as heir apparent under Tiberius, and Agrippina the Elder, a granddaughter of Augustus, she was destined for greatness. Her younger sister Caligula and her husband Claudius were both closely related to Agrippina through blood ties, with Claudius serving as her uncle and fourth husband. Historians describe Agrippina's personality as cunning, manipulative, and violent, driven by a relentless pursuit of power and influence. Physically, she was renowned for her beauty and reputation, with Pliny the Elder noting that she possessed a rare double canine in her upper right jaw, considered a sign of good fortune. Many ancient accounts accuse Agrippina of orchestrating the poisoning of her husband Claudius, although details vary. In AD 59, Agrippina's reign came to an abrupt end when she was executed on the orders of her son, the emperor Nero.