Portrait of Perikles

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From the British Museum: Perikles led the democracy of Athens at its height of power and influence until his death in 429 BC. He surrounded himself with a group of poets, architects, and artists who created works that included a program to renew the city's main religious and civic buildings. The crowning achievement was the Parthenon, built on the Acropolis between 447 and 432 BC. Perikles' exceptional oratory skills allowed him to rule Athens almost without opposition. This Roman replica of an original portrait may have been created during Perikles' lifetime or shortly after his death. However, it likely bears little physical resemblance to Perikles' actual appearance, depicting a mature soldier citizen wearing a helmet pushed back on his head as an ideal type. The portrait takes the form of a terminal bust designed for mounting on a square stone shaft. It is believed to have originated from Roman Emperor Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli near Rome and was later part of Charles Townley's collection.