Statue of the emperor in Ancient Rome: how it worked

History What it was

In a world without photographs or television, most people in the Roman Empire would never see their emperor in person. Statues, along with portraits on coins, showed everyone what the ruler looked like and what he stood for. They were placed in forums, temples, baths and theaters across the empire.

A marble portrait head of Augustus, the first emperor. Photo: Unknown artistUnknown artist, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

History Sending a message

Statues were carefully designed to send a message. The marble statue known as the Augustus of Primaporta shows the first emperor as a young, calm commander, with carvings on his armor celebrating a diplomatic victory. Many statues were originally painted in bright colors, though the paint has mostly worn away.

Bronze statues were sometimes covered in a thin layer of gold. Most ancient bronzes were later melted down for their metal. The bronze statue of the emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback survived because, for centuries, people believed it showed Constantine, the first Christian emperor. The original is now in Rome's Capitoline Museums.

The bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback on the Capitoline Hill (a copy; the original is in the museum). Photo: Alvesgaspar, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

History Giant statues

Some statues were enormous. Pieces of a colossal statue of Constantine, including a head more than two meters tall and a giant hand, can be seen in the courtyard of the Capitoline Museums.

A bronze portrait head of the emperor Constantine. Photo: Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

History Augustus and the birth of Jesus

Jesus was born during the reign of Augustus. The Gospel of Luke begins the story of his birth: "Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire" (Luke 2:1). Jesus grew up in a land ruled by Rome and was sentenced by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. In AD 313, Constantine, the first Christian emperor, allowed Christians across the empire to worship freely.