jordanlei 's review for:

Twelve Caesars: Images of Power from the Ancient World to the Modern by Mary Beard

3.0

informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

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A fascinating exploration of the iconic imagery of Roman emperors and how it has shaped our cultural imagination over time.

I’ll admit, I fell into the classic trap of judging a book by its cover—expecting a deep dive into the lives of the emperors themselves. Instead, Twelve Caesars is something more unusual: an art historical and cultural investigation into how the image of imperial Rome has been represented, repurposed, and reinterpreted across centuries.

What does it mean for leaders—ancient and modern—to associate themselves with Roman emperors, figures so often remembered for brutality, decadence, and dramatic downfalls? What did Julius Caesar really look like? And what about the wives of these emperors—those who shared their power and their peril? Like in SPQR, Beard’s attention to detail is meticulous. She follows iconographic trails through portraits, paintings, sculptures, and prints, dissecting them with the precision of a seasoned historian and critic. 

That said, as someone newer to the field, I occasionally found myself getting lost. At times, I wished for more scaffolding—especially when discussions hinged on subtle artistic differences or historical references I wasn’t fully familiar with. Some comparisons between artworks left me wondering why one was emphasized over another. 

Still, Twelve Caesars offers a rich and intriguing meditation on the power of images, and how the ghosts of empire linger in everything from Renaissance frescoes to modern political theater. It’s not an easy read, but it is a rewarding one—especially for those interested in how history is not only told, but pictured.