Bronze Bust of Caligula Unveiled As Rare Artifact of Rome’s ‘Mad Emperor’ Rediscovered After 200 Years

A rare bronze bust of the famous Roman Emperor Caligula was found after being thought to be lost for almost 200 years.

This 5-inch-tall item was first found in the ruins of Herculaneum, a Roman town that Mount Vesuvius destroyed in AD 79. It gives a fascinating look into the troubled reign of one of Rome's most famous emperors.

(Photo: WikimediaCommons/ Richard Mortel)

The Bust of Caligula is Found Again

The bronze bust of Caligula, which showed off his high forehead, thin lips, prominent chin, and the clear silver glint in his eyes, was taken by private collectors after the 18th century. A scholar and curator at Strawberry Hill named Dr. Silvia Davoli led a search that lasted ten years and found the bust again. It took a lot of searching through archives and a lucky break when a sketch commissioned by Horace Walpole, who used to own the bust, matched a bronze head in the Schroder Collection.

Bronze bust depicting sexually-depraved Roman Emperor is found https://t.co/hL7SH0MTVs via @romanhistory1
— Roman History (@romanhistory1) June 24, 2024

Hearing that Caligula's head had been located thrilled Dr. Davoli. Every item discovered, she continued, sparks fresh ideas that advance our understanding of the secret lives of objects and their historical movements.

The bust was once regarded as a Renaissance sculpture but was misidentified in the 19th century. It was a bust of Caligula, as Dr. Dietrich Boschung, a specialist in Roman emperor iconography, established. The bronze's makeup and the silver inlays in the eyes, common in Roman rulers' statues, proved that it was made long ago.

Caligula: The 'Mad Emperor'

Caligula was born in 12 AD and became emperor in 37 AD. He was known for living a lavish and immoral life. During his rule, there was much abuse, excessive luxury, and strange and unpredictable behavior.

For example, he was said to have been having sexual relations with his sisters and made his horse, Incitatus, a consul. His infamous quote, "Remember that I have the right to do anything to anybody," epitomizes his authoritarian rule, which ended abruptly when his Praetorian Guard assassinated him in AD 41.

By showing Caligula "at the beginning of his madness," as Walpole and others of his time put it, the bust's expressiveness shows how complicated this ruler was historically and psychologically. The artifact's rediscovery links to the stories of Caligula's excess and cruelty that have made him attractive in academic study and popular culture.

Exhibition and Importance in History

The "The Art of Treasure Hunting" exhibition at Strawberry Hill House starts on June 28 and will feature this rare bronze bust as its central piece. The exhibition will examine the bust's long and fascinating past, including how it was mistakenly thought to be someone else and the detective work needed to prove it was the right person.

Curators Dr. Caterina Badan and Dr. Davoli are trying to piece together the bust's history over many centuries, from its discovery at Herculaneum to its time in Walpole's collection and finally to its quiet time in the Schroder Collection. The bust is being studied using metallurgical tests and expert opinions to determine whether it is an actual Roman item or a later Renaissance work connected to the excavations at Herculaneum in the 1600s.

No matter where it came from, the bust is still a beautiful representation of one of history's most evil people. The new find adds to the small collection of bronze statues of Caligula that still exist. Other examples are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and a few private collections.

Dr. Davoli described the rediscovery of Caligula's head, one of Walpole's most prized treasures, as a truly exciting event. She emphasized that each recovered item sparks new ideas and enhances our understanding of objects' hidden lives and movements over the years.

Now that the bust is back at Strawberry Hill House, the public has a rare chance to interact with a piece of Roman history that vividly captures the scandal and intrigue of Emperor Caligula's rule.