The NY Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen has a spectacular imperial Roman sculpture gallery. Their collection of portraits of the members of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty is particularly impressive.
The Nerva–Antonine dynasty was a dynasty of seven Roman Emperors who ruled from 96 AD to 192 AD. These Emperors are Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, and Commodus.
- Nerva (ruled 96 – 98 A.D.)
- Trajan (ruled 98 – 117 A.D.)
- Hadrian (ruled 117 – 138 A.D.)
- Empress Sabina, wife of Hadrian
- Antinous, favorite of Hadrian
- Antoninus Pius (ruled 138 – 161 A.D.)
- Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius
The Empress Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius, c. AD 140, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen
© Carole Raddato
- Marcus Aurelius (ruled 161 – 180 A.D.)
- Faustina the Younger, wife of Marcus Aurelius
- Lucius Verus (ruled 161 – 169 A.D.)
Lucius Verus, c. AD 160-170, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen
© Carole Raddato
- Commodus (ruled 177 – 192 A.D.)
- Empress Crispina, wife of Commodus
The Empress Crispina, wife of Commodus, c. AD 180, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen
© Carole Raddato
In the view of Dio Cassius, Commodus’ accession marked the descent “from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust” (Dio Cassius 72.36.4) – a famous comment which has led some historians, notably Edward Gibbon, to take Commodus’s reign as the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire.
Many more portraits of the Nervan-Antonines can be viewed from my image collection on Flickr.
