Arles portrait bust
Encyclopedia
The Arles portrait bust is a life-sized marble bust showing an aging man with wrinkles, deep nasolabial creases
and hollows in his face. It was discovered in September–October 2007 in the Rhone River
near Arles
, southern France, by divers from the French Department of Subaquatic Archaeological Research. During the same campaign, divers also recovered smaller statues of Marsyas
in Hellenistic style and a life-size marble sculpture of Neptune
dating, from its style, to the 3rd century CE.
The uncompromising realism of the portrait places it in the tradition of late Republican Roman
portrait and genre sculptures of the 1st century BCE. The archaeologists suggested that this was a portrait of Julius Caesar
and that it should be given a date of about 46 BCE, making it, according to France's Minister of Culture Christine Albanel
, the oldest known representation of Caesar. They further suggested that the bust was discreetly disposed of after Caesar's assassination
in 44 BCE, when portraits of him could have been politically dangerous possessions.
The story was carried by many major media outlets. However, classicist Mary Beard
objected that there was no basis whatsoever for identifying it as Caesar, and accused the discoverers of staging a publicity stunt. Other historians were also quick to dispute the identification, among them Paul Zanker, the archaeologist and expert on Caesar and Augustus
. Many noted the lack of resemblances to Caesar's likenesses issued on coins during the last years of the dictator's life, and to the "Tusculum bust" of Caesar, which depicts Julius Caesar in his lifetime, either as a so-called zeitgesicht or as a direct portrait. After a further stylistic assessment Zanker dated the Arles bust to the Augustan
period. Elkins pointed out the 3rd century CE as the outside terminus post quem
for the deposition of the statues, thereby disputing the claim that the bust was thrown away due to feared repercussions from Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE.
Controversy about the identity of the bust is ongoing among French archeologists.
Nasolabial fold
The nasolabial folds, commonly known as "smile lines" or "laugh lines," are facial features. They are the two skin folds that run from each side of the nose to the corners of the mouth. They separate the cheeks from the upper lip...
and hollows in his face. It was discovered in September–October 2007 in the Rhone River
Rhône River
The Rhone is one of the major rivers of Europe, rising in Switzerland and running from there through southeastern France. At Arles, near its mouth on the Mediterranean Sea, the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhone and the Little Rhone...
near Arles
Arles
Arles is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence....
, southern France, by divers from the French Department of Subaquatic Archaeological Research. During the same campaign, divers also recovered smaller statues of Marsyas
Marsyas
In Greek mythology, the satyr Marsyas is a central figure in two stories involving music: in one, he picked up the double flute that had been abandoned by Athena and played it; in the other, he challenged Apollo to a contest of music and lost his hide and life...
in Hellenistic style and a life-size marble sculpture of Neptune
Neptune (mythology)
Neptune was the god of water and the sea in Roman mythology and religion. He is analogous with, but not identical to, the Greek god Poseidon. In the Greek-influenced tradition, Neptune was the brother of Jupiter and Pluto, each of them presiding over one of the three realms of the universe,...
dating, from its style, to the 3rd century CE.
The uncompromising realism of the portrait places it in the tradition of late Republican Roman
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
portrait and genre sculptures of the 1st century BCE. The archaeologists suggested that this was a portrait of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
and that it should be given a date of about 46 BCE, making it, according to France's Minister of Culture Christine Albanel
Christine Albanel
Christine Albanel is a French civil servant. From May 2007 to June 2009 she was France's Minister for Culture and Communication in François Fillon's government.Albanel is agrégé in classical Letters...
, the oldest known representation of Caesar. They further suggested that the bust was discreetly disposed of after Caesar's assassination
Assassination of Julius Caesar
The assassination of Julius Caesar was the result of a conspiracy by approximately forty Roman senators who called themselves Liberators. Led by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus, they stabbed Julius Caesar to death in the Theatre of Pompey on the Ides of March 44 BC...
in 44 BCE, when portraits of him could have been politically dangerous possessions.
The story was carried by many major media outlets. However, classicist Mary Beard
Mary Beard (classicist)
Winifred Mary Beard is Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge and a fellow of Newnham College. She is the Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement, and author of the blog "", which appears in The Times as a regular column...
objected that there was no basis whatsoever for identifying it as Caesar, and accused the discoverers of staging a publicity stunt. Other historians were also quick to dispute the identification, among them Paul Zanker, the archaeologist and expert on Caesar and Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
. Many noted the lack of resemblances to Caesar's likenesses issued on coins during the last years of the dictator's life, and to the "Tusculum bust" of Caesar, which depicts Julius Caesar in his lifetime, either as a so-called zeitgesicht or as a direct portrait. After a further stylistic assessment Zanker dated the Arles bust to the Augustan
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
period. Elkins pointed out the 3rd century CE as the outside terminus post quem
Terminus post quem
Terminus post quem and terminus ante quem specify approximate dates for events...
for the deposition of the statues, thereby disputing the claim that the bust was thrown away due to feared repercussions from Caesar's assassination in 44 BCE.
Controversy about the identity of the bust is ongoing among French archeologists.