Head of the Emperor Augustus in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Head of Emperor Augustus
Unknown
Roman, 25 - 1 B.C.
Marble
15 3/8 in.
78.AA.261

After many years of civil war, Augustus took complete power in Rome in 27 B.C. He claimed that he was re-establishing the Roman Republic, but he actually founded the Roman Empire. Visual signs emphasizing its power and legitimacy bolstered this new political order.

Portraits of Augustus served as symbols of his political agenda rather than corresponding to his physical features as described in written sources. Augustus is always shown in an ideal, classicizing style, and he never ages over the length of his reign. One constant feature of Augustus's portraits is his hairstyle, with its distinctive forked locks of hair on his forehead.

Text from: www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=9335