Gold "Aureus" coin of Nero found in Jerusalem

[Angela]

I've always thought he looks like Alessandro Del Piero.

http://www.archaeology.org/news/4835-160914-jerusalem-gold-coin

"Live Science reports that a gold coin bearing the image the Roman Emperor Nero has been discovered near the ruins of a first-century villa on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion. Archaeologist Shimon Gibson of the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, said that the villa is in the priestly and aristocratic quarter in the Upper City of Jerusalem. His team has also uncovered the villa’s well-preserved rooms; a mikveh, or Jewish ritual pool; and a bathroom. Gibson thinks the coin, which dates to A.D. 56, may have been lost and the villa destroyed in A.D. 70, when the Romans sacked the city. "

 

[Vallicanus]

I suggest a look on wildwinds.com at the "Nero" coins and elsewhere at the various busts of (a rather podgy) Nero which lack the cleancut looks of Alessandro del Piero.

 

[Vallicanus]

The historian Suetonius described Nero as having a squat neck and protuberant stomach in the "Twelve Caesars".

 

[Angela]

So? You know anyone who has clear cut features when they're really obese? I don't think so.

Nero ruined what looks he had, not that he was good looking, in my opinion, and not that I think Del Piero is gorgeous either, by overindulgence. We'll see if Del Piero has more discipline over the years.* The features are generally the same, even to the rather thick neck.

He seems to be rather soft-bodied already, in my opinion.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e-eCmUX_VQE/SiVQQYjc61I/AAAAAAAACDE/D6czeCXvxLw/s1600/alex-2.jpg

 

[bicicleur 2]

So? You know anyone who has clear cut features when they're really obese? I don't think so.

Nero ruined what looks he had, not that he was good looking, in my opinion, and not that I think Del Piero is gorgeous either, by overindulgence. We'll see if Del Piero has more discipline over the years.* The features are generally the same, even to the rather thick neck.

He seems to be rather soft-bodied already, in my opinion.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_e-eCmUX_VQE/SiVQQYjc61I/AAAAAAAACDE/D6czeCXvxLw/s1600/alex-2.jpg

Maybe Del Piero is not gorgeous, but IMO it is quite an insult to him comparing him with Nero.
And I'm sure, on the coin he's even depicted in a flattery way.
He was a spoiled mom's child.

 

[Angela]

Oh for goodness sakes', ok, he was a spoiled brat, maybe he even destroyed Rome and killed his mother. I'm sure we could dig up some more dirt on him if we try, whether it was true or not. And please spare me the rantings of that old blow hard, Suetonious. It's like believing The National Enquirer. Regardless, I didn't say I admired him, and I've already said I didn't think he was good looking. We also none of us know what he actually looked like either as a young man or an older man.

What I said is that, IMO, Del Piero, when young, resembles the YOUNG NERO ON THAT COIN, and I think I'm pretty good at facial recognition patterns. In fact I know I am. Nero's moral character is irrelevant, as is Del Piero's, as is what Nero looked like as an older and obviously obese man, if that's even him.

That's my opinion. If you don't agree, you can say so without being obnoxious or dragging in your old reflexive anti-Roman knee jerk reaction. It's annoying.

 

[bicicleur 2]

well I don't know anything about Nero's youth, but I imagine him as an overfed piglet even in his young age
I don't think he was brought up doing a lot of sports or getting a military training
maybe he should, I think it would have changed his character

and football players they are spoiled men too, but at least they have some excercise and serious training every day

IMO he doesn't look very pretty on it, but even so the depicture of Nero on his own coin was made very flattery for him

 

[bicicleur 2]

well here he is

AD 64, age 27

at age 18 he allready had Britannicus poisened