Marble bust of reluctant emperor Gordian I, who assumed the purple for brief period in 238 (22nd Mar
Marble bust of reluctant emperor Gordian I, who assumed the purple for brief period in 238 (22nd March-12 April).An aging governor of Africa Procunsularis was declared emperor by a group of local magnates who had killed a Roman treasurer and risen a rebel flag. Gordian tried to refuse the honor but facing a dilemma of becoming an emperor or being killed he chose the first option. As mentioned his reign was brief thoug. Governor of neighboring province of Numidia, Capilianus, was an ardent supporter of emperor Maximinus Thrax and also an old enemy of Gordian.He moved swiftly to Tunisia to crush rebellion and managed to beat Gordian’s enthusiastic but under equipped supporters with relative ease. Photo source: Marie-Lan Nguyen, via Wikimedia commons -- source link
#gordian i#roman#emperor#ancient#marble#bust#marie-lan nguyen