In the so-called year of the four emperors, 69 AD, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian wrestled over the claim to the imperial dignity in the Roman Empire. On 20 December Vitellius was deposed from office, killed and his body thrown into the Tiber. With the nomination of Vespasian as emperor, the dynasty of the Flavians was founded after the reign of the Iulian-Claudian dynasty.
This portrait, which was made in Cyprus during Vespasian's reign, is stylistically reminiscent of the facial features of the first Flavian emperor. (AVS)
Possibly former collection August Kestner, Rome
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