The NY Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen has a spectacular imperial Roman sculpture gallery. Their collection of portraits of the members of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty is particularly impressive.

The Nerva–Antonine dynasty was a dynasty of seven Roman Emperors who ruled from 96 AD to 192 AD. These Emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, and Commodus.

Nerva (ruled 96 – 98 AD)

Nerva, from Rome, AD 96-98, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato Nerva?, beginning of 2nd century AD, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Trajan (ruled 98 – 117 AD)



Statue of Trajan, from Rome, AD 98-117, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato Bust of Trajan, from the Baths of Caracalla, Rome, AD 98-117, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Head of Trajan, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato Head of Trajan, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Hadrian (ruled 117 – 138 AD)



Hadrian, from Rome, 125-138 AD, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato Head of Hadrian, from Italy, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Empress Sabina, wife of Hadrian



The Empress Sabina, wife of Hadrian, c. AD 128, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato The Empress Sabina, wife of Hadrian, from Ostia, c. AD 117-118, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Antinous, favorite of Hadrian

Antinous as Dionysus, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato Antinous, shortly after 130 AD, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Antoninus Pius (ruled 138 – 161 AD)

Antoninus Pius, AD 138-161, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato Antoninus Pius, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Empress Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius

Marcus Aurelius (ruled 161 – 180 AD)

Marcus Aurelius, from the Mausoleum of Hadrian, Rome, AD 170-180, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato Marcus Aurelius, from Tusculum near Rome, AD 144-145, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Empress Faustina the Younger, wife of Marcus Aurelius

The Empress Faustina the Younger, wife of Marcus Aurelius, AD 162, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato The Empress Faustina the Younger, wife of Marcus Aurelius, from Tarsos (Asia Minor), mid 2nd century AD, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Lucius Verus (ruled 161 – 169 AD)

Lucius Verus, c. AD 160-170, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen Young Lucius Verus, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Commodus (ruled 177 – 192 AD)

Young Commodus, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato Commodus, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato

Empress Crispina, wife of Commodus

In the view of Dio Cassius, Commodus’ accession marked the descent “from a kingdom of gold to one of iron and rust” (Dio 72.36.4) – a famous comment which has led some historians, notably Edward Gibbon, to take Commodus’ reign as the beginning of the decline of the Roman Empire.

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