Emperors and rulers
Julia Domna
An empress from Syria who travelled to Britain with the Severan court and appeared in widely distributed portraits.
Julia Domna was the wife of Septimius Severus and mother of Caracalla and Geta. She came from Syria and occupied a prominent place in the Severan ruling family. Her life challenges the idea that the imperial elite belonged to one homeland or background.
She travelled to Britain with Severus in AD 208. During the campaigns, Julia and Geta remained with the court at York. Her presence reminds us that an imperial expedition brought a household and an administration as well as an army.
A small beryl portrait intaglio in the Metropolitan Museum of Art dates to around AD 200–210. Unlike a monumental statue, a carved gemstone could carry an imperial likeness in a very small format. Such objects helped present a recognisable ruling family.
Context and evidence
A portrait can reveal political presentation as well as appearance. Compare the possible audience and use of a gemstone with those of a coin or public statue. What can each format communicate, and what remains beyond its evidence?
Sources and further reading
Romans in Britain · People · Places · Learning resources