Didius Julianus

This is an ivory relief made in ca. 1780-1820. This relief represents the head of the Roman Emperor Didius Julianus, his face turned towards the left. This is one of three pieces that are set onto a later velvet backing in a nineteenth-century wood frame. They all may have formed part of a larger group, now lost. This image of Didius Julianus (r. AD 193) is carved after an antique gem. Julianus was Roman Emperor for only a few weeks during the year 193. He came to the throne after buying it from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax, which all triggered the Roman Civil War of 193–197. Julianus was assassinated by his successor, Septimius Severus.