The unusually varied collection of Roman art spans the period from the late period of the Republic (1st century BC) to the late Empire (4th century AD), but most important is the collection of sculptural portraits. Including men, women and children, emperors, famous Roman statesmen, and private individuals, they enable us to trace the evolution of Roman portraiture from the creation of a faithful and accurate reproduction of the sitter's appearance to the depiction of the individual's inner world. The masterpieces of the collection are the bronze bust of a Roman man (1st century BC), a Syrian woman (2nd century AD), the Emperors Balbinus and Philip the Arab (both 3rd century AD). Roman official art, which affirmed the idea of the Eternal City by showing the Emperor as a god or triumphant commander - can be judged by the statue of the Emperor Augustus as Jupiter (1st century BC) and the portrait of Lucius Verus. Among the statues relating to different cults we should note the enormous statue of Jupiter (1st century BC) from Emperor Domitian's country villa. The exhibition includes a rich collection of Roman altars, reliefs, and marble sarcophagi.

The Hermitage collection of Roman antiquities is complemented by fine examples of bronzes, glassware, ceramics and mosaics.

If you enjoyed this collection, you might want to also visit the other collections at the State Hermitage Museum.

Ancient Coins