BUST OF PHILIP THE ARAB

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BUST OF PHILIP THE ARAB
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PHILIP HIS LIFE

• Philip rose to power as the praetorian prefect in
  Gordian IIIs army and fought against the
  Persians in Mesopotamia.
• Philip became emperor after Gordians death in
  244 AD
• Philips role in the death of Gordian is unclear
  many believe Philip was involved.
• Philips first job as emperor was to sue for a
  humiliating peace with the victorious Persian
  king.
• During Philips reign
• it was a period of great political, economic,
  religious, military unrest in the empire.
• he also had problems throughout his reign with
  Goths and internal rivals for the emperorship.
• the senate and the army were vying with each
  other to see that their favourite candidates got
  the Emperorship.
• Eventually he and his son were killed in the
  Battle of Verona in 249 AD by his own men who
  preferred Decius as emperor.

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• There are many differing opinions on Philip.
• M. Wheeler says - shifty and opportunistic in
  character.
• - assassinated the previous emperor, ruled
  for 5 years, only to be assassinated himself.
• J. Campbell says - Philip was a mutineer who
  usurped power. - he became emperor with
  the help of the army during an unstable
  time.
• R. Hannah says - a man with no noble
  background.
• - his anxious expression reveals his care
  of the empire in a disturbed time.

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• This deep bust is dated to 244-49 AD.
• His head is tilted up and turned to the right.
• His eyes look upwards as if for divine
  inspiration.
• His hair is close-cropped.
• He has a neatly trimmed moustache.
• Philip wears a trabeated toga with a broad flat
  band across his chest.

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• HAIR
• - like a raised cap.
• - beard and moustache is created by short sharp
  incisions.
• - chiseled,
• NOT drilled.

• EYES - pupil of the eye is hollowed out. -
  iris is incised.
• LIPS - pressed shutin disapproval? - full
  mouth.

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The bust is VERISTIC in style.

• What is veristic again?
• warts and all
• furrows of concentration on the forehead.
• overhang brows,
• he looks worried,
• deep lines from his nose to his lips,
• The marble itself is not polished and therefore
  not baroque, sensual or flashy.

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There is an awareness from the artists of
Philips Syrian (Arab) features and his origins

• big nose,
• high cheekbones,
• solid jaw-line.

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WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE THAT?

• The sculptor has captured an expression of
  anxiety on Philips face as if he seems to be
  weighed down by the cares of the emperor.
• Viewer is not confronted with a look of command,
  instead he looks away from us with a look of
  anxiety.
• Interesting that Philip would have been satisfied
  with this image a worried of a man who doesnt
  seem to be in control.
• His worn face does however show
• strength of character,
• dignity,
• determination and concern.

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THE END