Transcript BUST OF PHILIP THE ARAB - Classical Studies / FrontPage

BUST OF PHILIP THE ARAB
PHILIP – HIS LIFE
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Philip rose to power as the praetorian prefect in Gordian III’s
army and fought against the Persians in Mesopotamia.
Philip became emperor after Gordian’s death in 244 AD:
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During Philip’s reign:
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Philip’s role in the death of Gordian is unclear; many believe
Philip was involved.
Philip’s first job as emperor was to sue for a humiliating
peace with the victorious Persian king.
it was a period of great political, economic, religious, military
unrest in the empire.
he also had problems throughout his reign with Goths and
internal rivals for the emperorship.
the senate and the army were vying with each other to see
that their favourite candidates got the Emperorship.
Eventually he and his son were killed in the Battle of Verona
in 249 AD by his own men who preferred Decius as emperor.
There are many differing opinions on Philip.
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M. Wheeler says - shifty and opportunistic in
character.
- assassinated the previous emperor,
ruled for 5 years, only to be
assassinated himself.
J. Campbell says - Philip was a mutineer who
usurped power.
- he became emperor with
the help of the army during an
unstable time.
R. Hannah says
- a man with no noble
background.
- his anxious expression reveals his
care of the empire in a disturbed time.
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This deep bust is dated to
244-49 AD.
His head is tilted up and
turned to the right.
His eyes look upwards as
if for divine inspiration.
His hair is close-cropped.
He has a neatly trimmed
moustache.
Philip wears a “trabeated”
toga with a broad flat
band across his chest.
EYES
- pupil of the
eye is hollowed
out.
- iris is incised.
LIPS
- pressed
shut…in
disapproval?
- full mouth.
HAIR
- like a raised cap.
- beard and
moustache is
created by short
sharp incisions.
- chiseled,
NOT drilled.
The bust is VERISTIC in style.
What is veristic again…?
“warts and all”
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furrows of concentration on
the forehead.
overhang brows,
he looks worried,
deep lines from his nose to
his lips,
The marble itself is not
polished and therefore not
baroque, sensual or flashy.
There is an awareness from the artist’s
of Philip’s Syrian (Arab) features and
his origins
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big nose,
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high cheekbones,
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solid jaw-line.
WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT?
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The sculptor has captured an expression of
anxiety on Philip’s face as if he seems to be
weighed down by the cares of the emperor.
Viewer is not confronted with a look of
command, instead he looks away from us with a
look of anxiety.
Interesting that Philip would have been satisfied
with this image – a worried of a man who
doesn’t seem to be in control.
His worn face does however show:
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strength of character,
dignity,
determination and concern.
THE END