Ritrattistica di Augusto in Etruria meridionale alla luce delle ultime acquisizioni

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a critical reassessment of Augustus’s portraiture in Southern Etruria, for which there is documentation of the cult of this emperor since the early days of his reign. Documentary evidence is provided to show that all three of the most ancient of Augustus’s portrait types have been found in the area, besides the Prima Porta type. In this frame, the analysis of a marble head originally from Nepi is essential to support my argument. The sculpture was recently (2016) repatriated from Belgium after identified it as a replica of Augustus’capite velato portrait, which had been stolen in the 1970s. This proves a strong link between Augustus and Etruria and an upsurge in public architectural activity may be detected in this region, beginning in the Augustan period.

Keywords: Augustus portraits, Southern Etruria, imperial cult, Augustus from Nepi, architectural growth