Caligula - Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus - Digital Archive - Sam Donath

"This small, corroded bronze head has been identified as a rare surviving image of Caligula, one of only a few that escaped destruction or re-cutting after the hated Emperor’s assassination in 41 BC. ... After his death Caligula was not deified, as Augustus and Tiberius had been, and he suffered a damnatio memoriae – his name was removed from all public buildings and rolls of honour. His successor Claudius stopped short of declaring the day of his death a public holiday, but his statues were removed from public view. Some were thrown into the Tiber – a great dishonour. Others were recut to resemble Emperors of more blessed memory. And some were simply destroyed by a furious populace. Portraits on coins minted during his reign were defaced." --- Fitzwilliam Museum.

Marble. 43 × 21.5 × 25 cm. "The Romans had a long tradition of portraiture, but portraits of emperors had a specific propaganda function beyond that of ordinary portraits. The actual appearance of the individual was combined with the political message that the portrait was meant to convey. Portraits of Caligula show a young man with a high forehead, small mouth, and thin lips. He is identifiable as an individual, yet his hairstyle copies that of the emperor Augustus, making a deliberate allusion to his dynastic connection and his right to rule." --- J. Paul Getty Museum

Marble. 33 × 21 × 23.5 cm

"Caligula, who ruled as Roman emperor between A.D. 37 and 41, ranks among history’s most infamous characters, accused of a host of mad and cruel acts. Despite the questionable veracity of some of the more egregious claims against him, Caligula’s unpopularity led not only to his assassination but also to an unofficial 'damnatio memoriae'—a 'condemnation of his memory'—which included the removal of his portraits from public view. His portrait image, however, gives no hint of the emperor’s alleged brutality and mental imbalance. On the contrary, Caligula’s portraits are highly conservative, especially in the neat arrangement of comma-shaped locks over the forehead; this was in line with the portrait styles of his predecessor, Tiberius, and those of Augustus before him." --- Yale University Art Gallery

Basalt. 5.08 × 4.29 × 0.64 cm
(modern reproduction)

Manufactured by Wedgewood in Stoke-on-Trent, England

Marble. 50.8 x 18 cm

"The portrait style created for Augustus was adopted by his family and immediate successors in order to stress the unity and continuity of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. This fine bust of Caligula (r. A.D. 37– 41) has regular features and carefully designed locks of hair similar to those in portraits of Augustus. Here, however, the artist has also conveyed something of Caligula’s vanity and cruelty in the proud turn of the head and the thin, pursed lips." --- The Met

Bronze. 6.8 cm

"Gaius, more commonly known by his ancient nickname Caligula (Little Boots), was the first emperor to be assassinated. His uncle and successor, Claudius, had his statues and portraits removed from public view. Many were reworked as portraits of Augustus or of Claudius. It also seems that smaller, personal images of Caligula were deliberately thrown away after his murder; several have been recovered from the River Tiber in Rome." --- The Met

Images of sixteen different sculptures of leading figures of Rome.

Bronze. Diameter 3.3. cm

Copper. Diameter 2.8 cm

"Obverse: GERMANICVS CAESAR - Germanicus, bare-headed and cloaked, standing in quadriga, right, holding eagle tipped sceptre." "Reverse: SIGNIS RECEPT DEVICTIS GERM S C - Germanicus bare-headed and cuirassed, right, with tunic standing, left, right hand raised and left holding aquila" -- American Numismatic Society

"Seventeen coins, gold, silver, and bronze of the Emperor Caligula."

In addition to the coins of Emperor Caligula - this early work on Roman numismatics also features the coins of rulers/emperors: Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian.