Drusus Minor as Roman General - II
This statue represents Drusus Minor in its maturity, and dressed as a Roman general. In the years 17-20 AD, Tiberius sent him to Illyricum, not only to teach him the art of war, and to make him popular with the soldiery, but to remove him from the dissipations of the city. It is not easy to determine the exact scene of his operations, but he succeeded in fomenting dissension among the Germanic tribes, and destroyed the power of Roman enemies. For these successes an ovation was decreed to him by the senate. This statue may represent Drusus in the acme of his military fame.
Drusus Caesar (13 BC – 14 September 23 AD), commonly called by modem writers Drusus Minor, to distinguish him from his uncle Drusus Major, the brother of Tiberius, was the son of the emperor Tiberius by his first wife, Vipsania, who was the daughter of Agrippa by his first wife, Pomponia, the daughter of Atticus.
He married Livia (Livilla), the sister of his cousin Germanicus, after the death (4 AD), of her first husband, Caius Caesar, the son of Agrippa and Julia, Augustus’ daughter; but his wife was neither so popular nor so prolific as Agrippina, the wife of Germanics.
However, she bore him three children—two sons, who were twins, and a daughter. Of the twins, one died shortly after his father, and the other, Tiberius, was murdered by the emperor Caligula.
Ancient sources (Tacitus, Suetonius, Cassius Dio) concur that, with Livilla as his accomplice, Sejanus, Tiberius' Praetorian Prefect, poisoned Drusus (23 AD).
Roman marble sculpture
About 20 AD
From Sant’Antioco Island, Sardinia
Cagliari Archaeological Museum
Drusus Minor as Roman General - II
This statue represents Drusus Minor in its maturity, and dressed as a Roman general. In the years 17-20 AD, Tiberius sent him to Illyricum, not only to teach him the art of war, and to make him popular with the soldiery, but to remove him from the dissipations of the city. It is not easy to determine the exact scene of his operations, but he succeeded in fomenting dissension among the Germanic tribes, and destroyed the power of Roman enemies. For these successes an ovation was decreed to him by the senate. This statue may represent Drusus in the acme of his military fame.
Drusus Caesar (13 BC – 14 September 23 AD), commonly called by modem writers Drusus Minor, to distinguish him from his uncle Drusus Major, the brother of Tiberius, was the son of the emperor Tiberius by his first wife, Vipsania, who was the daughter of Agrippa by his first wife, Pomponia, the daughter of Atticus.
He married Livia (Livilla), the sister of his cousin Germanicus, after the death (4 AD), of her first husband, Caius Caesar, the son of Agrippa and Julia, Augustus’ daughter; but his wife was neither so popular nor so prolific as Agrippina, the wife of Germanics.
However, she bore him three children—two sons, who were twins, and a daughter. Of the twins, one died shortly after his father, and the other, Tiberius, was murdered by the emperor Caligula.
Ancient sources (Tacitus, Suetonius, Cassius Dio) concur that, with Livilla as his accomplice, Sejanus, Tiberius' Praetorian Prefect, poisoned Drusus (23 AD).
Roman marble sculpture
About 20 AD
From Sant’Antioco Island, Sardinia
Cagliari Archaeological Museum