Green caesar

“Green Caesar” ( German: Grüner Caesar ) - an antique bust of the Roman statesman and commander Guy Julius Caesar ( 100 BC - 44 BC ), made of green slate, from the Berlin Antique collection . Demonstrated in the exposition of the Old Museum .

Green Caesar .

slate . Height 41 cm

Antique collection , Berlin

( inv. )

The bust has a height of 41 centimeters, more than its actual size. Marble inserts in the eyes of the sculpture and a small pedestal are later additions.

In the Roman tradition, it was not customary to idealize the portrait; on the contrary, the sculptor tried to convey natural features. Therefore, the face of the depicted has a bright personality.

Of the intravital portraits of Caesar, only images on coins survived, all the famous sculptural portraits were created after his death. This bust is also most likely made at the beginning of the imperial period in the first century AD , although some experts admit an earlier dating - the first century BC .

The place where the bust was made is probably Egypt . At least the green slate from which the bust is made comes from Upper Egypt . Egyptian origin is also indicated by the fact that Caesar's hair is engraved, not voluminous, as was customary in Rome.

Caesar and Cleopatra at the Old Museum

After creation, the bust was in Rome and, after a period of oblivion, was reopened there. In 1767, it was acquired in Paris as part of the collection of Julien for King of Prussia Frederick II . Today it is exhibited in the Berlin Old Museum , next to the bust of Cleopatra , Queen of Egypt, with whom Guy Julius Caesar had a difficult relationship.