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Lot Essay
Gnaeus Pompey Magnus (106-48 B.C.) was a Roman statesman and military leader of the late Republic who was instrumental in establishing new Roman colonies in Pontus and Syria. While he achieved success against Mithridates VI in 63 B.C. he was less successful against Julius Caesar in the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 B.C. After his defeat at Caesar's hands, Pompey sought refuge in Egypt where he was subsequently assassinated by a member of Ptolemy XII's army.
This terracotta portrait of Pompey follows a scheme found in marble sculpture of the statesman. As D.E.E. Kleiner notes (pp. 42-44 in Roman Sculpture) Pompey’s portraits do not follow standard republican traits such as a bald pate or receding hairline. Instead, Pompey’s full head of hair with an anastole recalls portraits of Alexander the Great and attests to the vision that Pompey set for himself.
This terracotta portrait of Pompey follows a scheme found in marble sculpture of the statesman. As D.E.E. Kleiner notes (pp. 42-44 in Roman Sculpture) Pompey’s portraits do not follow standard republican traits such as a bald pate or receding hairline. Instead, Pompey’s full head of hair with an anastole recalls portraits of Alexander the Great and attests to the vision that Pompey set for himself.