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 AD 96 to AD 192. These Emperors were Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, and Commodus. Five of them are commonly known as the “Five Good Emperors”. The term was coined by political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli in his 1531 manuscript Discourses on Livy.
From the study of this history we may also learn how a good government is to be established; for while all the emperors who succeeded to the throne by birth, except Titus, were bad, all were good who succeeded by adoption, as in the case of the five from Nerva to Marcus. But as soon as the empire fell once more to the heirs by birth, its ruin recommenced.
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.
- Nerva (ruled AD 96 – 98)
- Trajan (AD ruled 98 – 117)
- Hadrian (ruled AD 117 – 138)
- Empress Sabina, wife of Hadrian
- Antinous, Hadrian’s favourite
- Antoninus Pius (ruled AD 138 – 161)
- Empress Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius
- Marcus Aurelius (ruled AD 161 – 180)
- Empress Faustina the Younger, wife of Marcus Aurelius
- Lucius Verus (ruled AD 161 – 169)
- Commodus (ruled AD 177 – 192)
- Empress Crispina, wife of Commodus
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Excellent Carole ! So useful for Students.