Felicem diem natalem, Luci Vere! FOLLOWING HADRIAN

Lucius Ceionius Commodus, the future Lucius Verus, was born on December 15 in AD 130. He was the son of Lucius Aelius Caesar, Hadrian’s first choice as heir, but Lucius’ father died when he was only seven years old. Having lost his successor, Hadrian designated Antoninus Pius to be his successor and required him, in turn, to adopt Lucius as well as Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus ruled jointly for eight years, from AD 161 to 169.

As a tribute to Lucius Verus’ birthday, here is a selection of his surviving portraits.

Lucius Verus as a child (Type I)
From Ostia Antica, Italy

Young Lucius Verus.
Olympia Archaeological Museum, Greece

Young Lucius Verus, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato — Young Lucius Verus
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Lucius Verus (Main type), Marble, AD 160 -170
Altes Museum Berlin

Marble head of Lucius Verus From Perge Antalya Museum © Carole Raddato — Marble head of Lucius Verus (Main type), from Perge
Antalya Museum

Portrait head of co-emperor Lucius Verus, found in Athens, 161-169 AD, National Archaeological Museum of Athens © Carole Raddato — Portrait head of co-emperor Lucius Verus, found in Athens, AD 161-169
National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Lucius Verus, c. AD 160-170, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato — Lucius Verus, c. AD 160-170
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen

Colossal head of Lucius Verus (mounted on a modern bust), from a villa belonging to Lucius Verus in Acqua Traversa near Rome, between AD 180 and 183 AD (posthumous), Louvre Museum — Colossal head of Lucius Verus (mounted on a modern bust), from a villa belonging to Lucius Verus in Acqua Traversa near Rome, between AD 180 and 183 AD (posthumous)
Louvre Museum, Paris

Marble bust of Lucius Verus Glyptothek Museum, Munich © Carole Raddato — Marble bust of Lucius Verus
Glyptothek Museum, Munich

Modern marble bust with the head of Lucius Verus, 2nd half of 2nd century AD Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence — Modern marble bust with the head of Lucius Verus, 2nd half of 2nd century AD
Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Lucius Verus, from Mahdia, Tunisia, National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen © Carole Raddato — Lucius Verus, from Mahdia (Tunisia)
National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen

Statue of Lucius Verus.
New Wing, Vatican Museums

Marble bust of the emperor Lucius Verus, from Rome, circa 161-170 AD British Museum — Marble bust of the emperor Lucius Verus, from Rome, circa AD 161-170
British Museum, London

Portrait of Lucius Verus, replica of the mid 3rd century AD, found in the Roman Forum Palatine Museum, Rome — Portrait of Lucius Verus, replica of the mid 3rd century AD, found in the Roman Forum
Palatine Museum, Rome

Lucius Verus is remembered for being a fairly successful military conqueror. He made successful campaigns in Armenia and Mesopotamia and sacked Ctesiphon, the Parthian capital (see Lucius Verus and the Parthians). Verus also campaigned with Marcus Aurelius in the vicinity of Pannonia against the Marcomanni. Returning home in AD 169, the junior emperor fell ill and died soon after at the age of 38. Rome was left with a sole ruler again. Source

More portraits of Lucius Verus can be viewed from my image collection on Flickr.

Recommended book on Lucius Verus: Lucius Verus and the Roman Defence of the East by M.C. Bishop (Pen & Sword Military 2018)