Roman Carnelian or Agate Sculpture of an Emperor Wearing A Lion Skin

In the Hellenistic tradition, this exquisite sculpture compares its youthful subject to the hero god Herakles, who wore the skin of the Nemean lion. The jewel-like carving, in the manner of the best imperial workshops, lends remarkable sensitivity on a small scale. Whose image it might be is less certain; one of the young rulers of the Severan Dynasty perhaps, maybe Gordian III, or even Constantine the Great. Such breathtaking beauty is timeless: any age and culture would acknowledge this as a treasure.

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