Torso of an emperor at the MET, New York

myminifactory

This statue's torso belonged to a colossal figure of Roman Emperor Hadrian discovered in Cyrene, northern Africa. In ancient Rome, public statues were placed according to strict rules concerning location, material and iconography. Imperial images required even greater attention due to their significance, as seen in the numerous surviving imperial statues that showcase only three official representations: the emperor clad in battle dress, a general's attire; draped in a toga, symbolizing Roman state garb; or nude, likened to a deity. These formats effectively communicated the emperor's roles as commander-in-chief, magistrate and priest, as well as his divine persona.