CIRCA EARLY 2ND CENTURY A.D.

It has been suggested that the present bust may depict the Roman Politician and General, Marcus Antonius. Born in 83 BC to Marcus Antonius Creticus and Julia, cousin of Julius Caesar (100 BC- 44 BC), by 58 BC he was forced to flee Rome to escape his debtors after dissipating the little money he had inherited at his father's death. He settled in Asia where he joined the army and turned out to be a surprisingly good soldier. He became very close to Caesar, joining him on his campaign in Gaul and following him to Greece after Caesar swept the republicans out of Italy. With Caesar as dictator, Anthony was in charge of the administration of Italy, although his lack of commitment and dishevelled lifestyle caused no little embarrassment to Caesar. After Caesar's death in 44 BC Anthony became Caesar's executor. However, on the return of Octavian (63 BC -14 AD), Caesar's legitimate heir, Anthony was sent to Gaul as proconsul. While in Gaul, the senate declared him a public enemy. Nonetheless, he succeeded in forming an alliance with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (89 or 88 BC - late 13 or early 12 BC) who had been sent with an army against him. After reconciliation with Octavian, the three formed the alliance known as the Second Triumvirate. When Anthony's third wife, Fulvia, died, he took Octavian's sister as his new wife. In 37 BC The Triumvirate was extended for a further five years and the three members divided the Roman world between them, Anthony keeping the provinces east of the Adriatic. However, when it became clear that Anthony was consorting with Cleopatra, Octavian declared war on Anthony, using the pretext that he had been corrupted by the Egyptian queen. From the outset the campaign went in Octavian's favour and Anthony's battle plan remained obscure. In Alexandria, Cleopatra and Anthony awaited defenselessly the arrival of victorious Octavian. In 30 BC Anthony was captured and, on being told that Cleopatra was dead, he committed suicide. Even though this news was premature, she did commit suicide shortly afterwards. With Antony dead, Octavian, known after 27 BC as Augustus, became uncontested ruler of Rome until 14 AD.