Marble Head of a Veiled Man in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, July 2007

Marble head of a veiled man
Roman, Julio-Claudian period, first half of the 1st century AD

Accession # 1991.11.5

The emperor was the chief state priest, and many statues show him in the act of prayer or sacrifice, with a fold of his toga pulled up to cover his head as a mark of piety. However, this idealized head may represent the Genius, or protective spirit of the living emperor. Traditionally, the protective spirit of every Roman household was worshiped at the family shrine. It was represented by a statuette with a veiled head holding implements of sacrifice. Similar veneration of the Genius Augustii, introduced by the paternalistic Augustus, was widespread at public shrines and altars.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.