Claudius
41 - 54 A.D.Tiberius Claudius Nero Germanicus
Busts, Statues, Coins, Information, Maps, Images, and More
"Scholar"
Claudius was the uncle of Caligula and fourth Emperor of Rome. He was a scholar who had the historian Livy as one of his tutors. He also stumbled as he walked. He suffered from a deformity because of polio, paralyzed as an infant. He was not taken very seriously until he became emperor or Rome, and gained prominence by his decisions. He added at least five provinces to the Empire, including Britain and Morocco (Mauretania). He appointed his freedmen to run the bureaucracy, including Pallas to run the treasury.
Paul the Apostle went on his missionary journeys mainly during the reign of Claudius, and while he was in prison in Caesarea for two years when Felix (brother of Pallas) was procurator of Judea.
Claudius was not very wise in choosing his wives. His first wife was Messalina and she was very unfaithful, so Claudius was advised to have her executed and he did so. It was written of him that he would forget that she was dead and would expect her to show up at the dinner. His second wife was Agrippina she wanted her son Nero to be Emperor so one night she murdered Claudius by feeding him poisonous mushrooms. Nero then took the throne.
Claudius Busts and Statues
1. Bust
of Claudius Claudius
was the 4th Emperor of Ancient Rome. He was not the likely
candidate to succeed Caligula because of a deformity from
his youth and because he had no political experience.
Claudius proved to be a strong administrator and a great
builder of public works. He expanded the Empire During his
reign. National Museum Naples, Italy |
2. Bust
of the Emperor Claudius He
is wearing an oak wreath. According
to history, Claudius was affected with some kind of
disability, probably infantile paralysis or Polio. The
portrait of this bust shows a man who seems to be suffering
with illness, which he had. From the NY Carlsberg Glyptotek,
Copenhagen. |
3.
Portrait of Claudius The
bust is from NY Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen. The way he
looks seems fragile and innocent, yet he was accused of
being a womanizer. Suetonius said that "He had a great
passion for women, but had no interest in men." The only one
not to take young boys or men as homosexual lovers. |
4.
Bronze Head of Claudius This
head of the Emperor Claudius was discovered in the River
Alde, Rendham, Sussex, in the first century AD. It is made
of bronze and currently on display at the British Museum. |
5.
Colossal Head of Claudius This
head is from the ruins of the colossal statue of the Emperor
Claudius in Piraeus Museum, Greece. He was believed to be
overly trusting in that he allowed himself to be influenced
by some of the corrupt figures of his time, including the
senate. |
6.
Imperial Portrait of Claudius The
aura on his face portrays an old man with slumber eyes
probably from the strain he gets from bribing the army to
secure their loyalty. He was the first emperor to resort to
bribery. |
7. Statue
of Claudius as Jupiter This
marble statue of Claudius portrays him as the embodiment of
Jupiter with the sceptre, a sign of Jupiter's absolute rule.
He also has the eagle by his side which also accompanied
Jupiter, but instead of holding a lighting bolt he holds a
libation dish offering a libation for his country. 1st
century A.D. Vatican Museums, Rome |
8. Bust
of Claudius as Jupiter This
Roman Artwork was made of marble and is from the Imperial
Period. Claudius and also Domitian, adopted the traits of
Jupiter to their portraits to emphasize their power over the
world. Vatican Museums. |
Claudius Coins
| 1.
Sestertius of Claudius
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| 2.
Bronze Coin of Claudius
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| 3.
Claudius Coin
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