Narcissism in the Iconography of Roman Emperors: Caligula and Nero as a Case Study | ||
| IWNW | ||
| Volume 4, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 199-246 PDF (1.95 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/iwnw.2025.452075 | ||
| Author | ||
| Shaimaa Ahmed* | ||
| Ain Shams university, Faculty of Archaeology, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Body gestures serve as a silent language that reveals an individual's psychological traits. Roman art effectively utilized these gestures to convey the personality of the emperor. This study analyzes the manifestations of narcissism in the statues of Nero and Caligula, comparing them with the composed body gestures of Marcus Aurelius, an emperor known for his philosophical approach to governance. By examining artistic depictions, this research illustrates how art shaped an exalted self-image that reflected absolute power and narcissistic tendencies within the political and psychological context of these emperors. The analysis integrates archaeological studies with a psychological approach, employing criteria from the DSM-5 for narcissistic personality disorder. In contrast, the representation of Marcus Aurelius emphasizes his humility and philosophical influence. This study provides a multidisciplinary perspective on the artistic depictions of emperors, revealing the interplay between their psychological states and political aspirations. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Body language; Narcissism; Caligula; Nero; Marcus Aurelius; Psychological Portraiture | ||
| References | ||
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