Portrait of Nero

myminifactory

This head, carved to be fitted onto a larger figurative statue, portrays the emperor Nero (AD 54-68) in a priestly role, capite velato (with covered head). The damnatio memoriae (damnation of memory) that Nero suffered after his death undoubtedly lead to the removal of this sculpture from the site where it was originally placed, possibly to be identified with the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine Hill.