Detail from a Statue of Livia Drusilla
Detail from a Statue of Livia Drusilla (Early 1st Century AD)
This marble detail portrays Livia Drusilla, later known as Julia Augusta, the influential wife of Emperor Augustus and mother of Emperor Tiberius.
Sculpted in the early 1st century AD, the piece reflects the serene dignity and idealized beauty typical of Imperial Roman portraiture .
Discovered among the ruins of Pompeii.
Livia Drusilla (58 BCE – 29 CE) was the wife of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus, and one of the most influential women in Roman history.
Known for her intelligence, political acumen, and influence over imperial affairs, she played a key role in consolidating the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Livia was also celebrated for her dignified public image and patronage of the arts, and after her death, she was deified by the Senate as Julia Augusta. Her life exemplifies the power and subtlety of women in the Roman elite.
