Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180 CE) was known as the “philosopher-emperor” for his interest in philosophy and his work Meditations, written in Greek. His portrait sculpture is characterized by his thick curly hair and beard, large bulging eyes, and drooping eyelids. This expression, which emphasizes the emperor’s status as a contemplative intellectual, was carefully designed to convey his political intentions or
desire for self-representation. Thus, while it may seem a bit cliché today, this design actually held great strategic meaning at the time.