Marble Head of Titus Flavius Orestes

Illustration

Nathalie Choubineh
by
published on 24 February 2025
Subscribe to author
Marble Head of Titus Flavius Orestes Download Full Size Image

Marble head of Titus Flavius Orestes, from Herakleia Lynkestis, near Bitola, North Macedonia, c. 1st-2nd century CE.

Archaeological Museum of Heraclea, Bitola.

The marble head was located in the colonnaded courthouse near the city's forum, both of which are features of Roman architecture introduced to Herakleia Lynkestis as part of construction projects in the newly established province of Macedonia Prima. Notably, this sculpted head is accompanied by an inscription on its pedestal, which provides additional context. It reads:

The city [raises a monument to] Titus Flavius Orestes - twice a high priest and a benefactor for the love of this city upon the proposal of Gaius Marius Blossian Trason while Marius Claudius Pulcher was a polytarch (city official).

Titus Flavius Orestes was a highly esteemed Roman magistrate and high priest in the early 2nd century CE. However, he is often mistakenly associated with the father of the Roman emperor Romulus Augustulus, who lived a few hundred years later.

Marius Claudius Pulcher (c. 60 to after 31 BCE) was a nobleman connected to two of the Roman triumviri, Mark Antony and Octavian, who later became Emperor Augustus. As a young man, Marius Claudius Pulcher held the title of praetor (provincial governor) and was also a member of the augurs, who were religious leaders in Rome. His namesake polytarch of Herakleia Lynkestis when the statue of Titus Flavius was erected may well have been a member of the same family or even a direct descendent of the Roman priest-praetor appointed to govern the Macedonian province of the Roman Empire.

Remove Ads
Advertisement
Subscribe to this author

About the Author

Nathalie Choubineh
Nathalie is a translator and independent researcher of dance in the ancient world with a focus on Ancient Greece and the Near East. She has published works in ancient dance, ethnomusicology, and literature. She loves learning and sharing knowledge.

References

  • Anica Gjorgjievska, Engin Nasuh. Heraclea Lyncestis. Skopje, Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia, 2015

Cite This Work

APA Style

Choubineh, N. (2025, February 24). Marble Head of Titus Flavius Orestes. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20056/marble-head-of-titus-flavius-orestes/

Chicago Style

Choubineh, Nathalie. "Marble Head of Titus Flavius Orestes." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 24, 2025. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20056/marble-head-of-titus-flavius-orestes/.

MLA Style

Choubineh, Nathalie. "Marble Head of Titus Flavius Orestes." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 24 Feb 2025. Web. 24 Feb 2025.

Membership