Ritratti di Leptis Magna: modelli, produzione, contesto tra la dinastia flavia e gli Antonini

Marble portraits from Leptis Magna, spanning the Flavian to Antonine periods (1st–2nd century AD), reveal distinct stylistic traits shaped by Roman influence and local craftsmanship. Analysis shows a shift from Graeco-Alexandrine traditions—filtered through Cyrene—to dominant Roman models, with growing Eastern Mediterranean inputs, particularly from Asia Minor. Portraits, displayed in public spaces like the Old Forum and Serapeum, served as tools for social prestige, honoring imperial figures, civic elites, and benefactors while reflecting political aspirations and economic prosperity. A notable female portrait from the Serapeum exemplifies Asiatic stylistic influence, underscoring the site's evolving artistic identity during its peak stability.

Buccino, L. (2014). Ritratti di Leptis Magna: modelli, produzione, contesto tra la dinastia flavia e gli Antonini. Libyan Studies, 45, 19–47. https://doi.org/10.1017/lis.2014.3