Imperial Influence and Innovation: The Good Emperors and The Bronze Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius

Abstract

Roman portraiture provides insight into the ways in which political and social ideologies of the imperial dynasties manifested in imagery. Such iconography legitimized emperors' authority by simultaneously cultivating a visual connection to past leaders and promoting the agenda of the contemporary dynasty. While drawing upon the symbolism of previous sovereigns and establishing iconographic elements materialized within dynastic imagery, it is also evident in the representations of individual emperors. This paper explores the presence of influence and innovation within the imperial representation of the Good Emperors and focuses on examining the Bronze Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. It highlights the evolution of imperial portraiture within the adoptive succession of the Good Emperors and how such imagery successfully perpetuated values of social welfare, military dominance, and intellectual growth and served to reinforce the continuity of this dynasty. Moreover, through a comprehensive analysis of the sculpture of Marcus Aurelius, it seeks to understand the symbolic significance of the monument with respect to the gestures, garb, and notable facial features associated with this emperor. This representation of Marcus Aurelius embodies the essence of influence and innovation as he is depicted in a manner congruent with that of his predecessors and revolutionizes the incorporation of insight into the psychological state of a Caesar.