Philip the Arab (c. 204-249, Emperor from 244) came from a barbarian family. In his struggle for power he relied on the army and used any means - from slander to murder. Having got rid of the Emperor Gordianus III (ruled 238-244), Philip became head of state; it was during his reign, in 247, that Rome celebrated its millennium. The Emperor is depicted wearing a tunic and toga, the straight folds of which do not convey any sense of the texture of the fabric; short notches convey the hair and beard, while the facial features are generalized; there is no fine modelling on the surface. Yet this rough weather-beaten face must be a true likeness in the traditions of Roman portraiture. The asymmetry of the features gives the expression a sense of liveliness, combining will and cruelty with suspicion and hidden fear. The simplified and expressive plastic language appeared in Roman art under the influence of the barbarian provinces and was in keeping with the tastes of the new rulers of the Empire.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.

Scanned : Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)