Maráz Borbála: Marcus Aurelius bronz császárportré a római kori Lugioból. (Pécs, 1997.)

Several portraits, bronze or marble representations of Marcus Aurelius survived. The best known of these is the equestrian statue from about 170 AD that was almost miraculously saved until 1538 when Michelangelo erected it on Capitol Hill in Rome. The portraits were made according to the typical 2nd century standard and followed the Greek conventions in the official style required by the imperial court. The personality of the philosopher-emperor, the stoic scholar and ideal man is reflected authentically by these portraits all of them representing the melancholicly transfigured face. The stoicism deeply influenced the mentality of the 2nd century Rome, at least that of the learned and wealthy people. According to the Stoa it was unimportant what the sensible world consists of; the very essence of knowledge was to direct man's behavior as long as the earthly life lasts. The conduct became more important than science and the virtues of soul were emphasized. This mentality was also expressed by the imitation of the beard-style of Greek philosophers. This philosopherbeard can be seen on the portraits of emperors from Hadrian onwards. The characteristic features of 2nd century Roman portrait - sculpture can also be discerned on the Marcus Aurelius representations known so far. The relatively great number of these can be connected with the emperor-cult widely practized in Rome and in the provinces. The Roman Empire made its subjects to show respect to their rulers in a religious way. The imperial power was expressed by the high position of the emperor as a priest and by the cult established for his own person. This cult enjoyed an increasing veneration among the officially approved cults supported by the state: temples and priests were ordered for its service and the emperor was worshipped as a god already during his lifetime. The subjects expressed their loyalty to the Roman Empire and its ideals by their offering - ceremonies before the statues of the emperor or by the altars of his erected in the offices or in the shrines of military camps.