Torso of an Emperor in Armor by the Princeton University Art Museum, August 2009

Torso of an emperor in armor
second half of 1st century A.D.

Roman

White marble with gray veining

h. 125.7 cm., w. 64.8 cm., d. 47.5 cm., weight 898.1 g (49 1/2 x 25 1/2 x 18 11/16 in., 1980 lb.)

Museum purchase, Caroline G. Mather Fund

Object Number: y1984-2

Text from: artmuseum.princeton.edu/art/collections/ancient/search/

and

Traces of ancient repairs suggest that this monumental statue of a victorious general or emperor was knocked down and then re-erected, presumably with a new portrait head. Such transformations took place when the memory of a despised emperor was officially suppressed by the Senate, as happened following the deaths of Nero and Domitian, both of whom have been proposed for identification with this figure. The reliefs on the breastplate include a frontal head of Medusa, a pair of winged Victories erecting a "trophy" by nailing armor to a tree stump, a peripheral band of arms and armor, and a double row of lappets with animals and humanoid heads. The damaged figure seated at the base of the trophy represents a defeated barbarian.

Text from the Princeton University Art Museum label.