A Portrait of Claudia Octavia |
Rome101.com home Claudia Octavia was 1st wife of Nero
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Claudia Octavia (also Octavia Neronis,
Latin CLAVDIA OCTAVIA) was born
about 42-40 AD, married Nero in 53, and was divorced and banished by him
in 62. According to Suetonius, she was later executed on demand of
Nero's second wife Poppaea. While this may have happened, Suetonius's
details of this execution are clearly fictional. After being declared a hostis by her former husband Nero in 62 AD, most portraits of Claudia Octavia were probably quickly destroyed. Styling of the marble portrait shown here, from the Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo, indicates it is from the time of Nero. The hairstyle is similar to that seen on the very few extant coins bearing Claudia Octavia's image. Her faciaol features, particularly ears and chin, are very similar to those of the more veristic portraits of Claudius, her father (compare her chin with that of Claudius here, and ears with this Claudius head) [1].
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| Copyright 2007 Bill Storage and Laura Maish. Updated 6/8/2008 |
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