To celebrate New Years Day I'm posting 15 newly acquired images in chronological order of their creation . . . at least according to my sources and research. We start with a heroic nude bronze statue of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. It was likely made during his reign around 200 AD, but it was discovered by chance in 1928 in a garden on the island of Cyprus.
Magnificent statue. But how do they know it's a statue of Septimus Severus? It's a naked male. Granted, the peter is larger than the "classic cock," but is there an inscription on it somewhere that identifies it, or did they know he was well hung?
ReplyDeleteThe facial features match busts which had naming inscriptions. It is generally thought that the bodies on such statues were idealized, but as you note, one element doesn't fit the usual pattern.
DeleteWonderful work. More naturalistic than ideaised.
ReplyDeleteIt is far more natural than some of that ilk, but we have to wonder if Severus' body actually looked that good. Nice if it did.
DeleteGRAZIE for posting this! I'm a Roman (well, Roman-Sicilian descendant), and regularly study the Empire. While he may not have been the greatest Emperor, this depiction of him is so heroic / sexy. Emp Hadrian surpasses him....that stud regularly bathed with his soldiers! 💕🏛️🏛️
ReplyDeleteHadrian is my favorite as well. By many accounts he was unabashedly gay, having no use for the wife his family acquired for him.
DeleteA beautiful statue and a man who knew what he wanted!
DeleteAbsolutely. He built a whole (Egyptian) marble / gold city for his male lover, "Antinoöpolis," and was depressed for years afterward. Much like Pres. Lincoln w/Joshua Speed.
Delete+ È possibile ammirare Antinopoli durante le crociere sul Nilo. Il sito si trova tra Il Cairo e la Valle dei Re/Luxor.
ReplyDeleteC’è così tanto da vedere sul Nilo.
Si, sono curioso; ma, dicono che c'e' solo un pezzo di strada che rimasta di Antinopoli. (Ho visto 'a fotografia).
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