COLOSSAL HEAD OF CALIGULA, C. 40 CE, RECARVED AS CLAUDIUS, C. 42 CE. VATICAN MUSEUMS This portrait was probably part of a large seated statue in a civic building of Otricoli, ancient Ocriculum in southern Umbria. It shows the head of Claudius, the fourth Julio-Claudian emperor, who succeded his nephew Gaius Caligula in 41 CE. Rather than destroying the whole statue in the purge of Caligula's images that followed, the authorities of Ocriculum had the head recarved. Thus this is an example of ancient spolia reuse. The whole face was recarved, pushing it back onto the neck, which is the original size, and if you look at the hairline just below the oak-leaf crown, you can see some of the original fringe of hair. Claudius was also made young and benefited from Caligula's chin.

For #SpoliaSunday we have a monumental head of #Caligula in the #VaticanMuseums, from the so-called Basilica of #Otricoli. After Caligula's damnatio memoriæ, this head was recarved as a portrait of his uncle and successor #Claudius. #AncientBluesky 🏺