The Roman Emperors Collection: Caesar, Augustus, Hadrian and the Gods
This guide walks you through the emperors and deities of our Emperors & Gods collection — who they actually were, and which piece carries their face. Every figure here is a contemporary reproduction sold as such, most of them hand-finished in Italy in bronze-effect resin: no fake antiquities, no invented provenance. You can order online or handle each piece in our shop at Via Cavour 280, 50 metres from the Colosseum.
Julius Caesar: dictator, never emperor
Start with the detail that surprises most visitors: Caesar never held the title of emperor. He conquered Gaul between 58 and 50 BC, crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC and ruled Rome as dictator perpetuo until the Ides of March, 44 BC. The calendar you use today descends from the one he introduced, and every emperor after him borrowed his name — which is why "Caesar" outlived the man by two thousand years.
Our Julius Caesar bust renders him in hand-finished bronze-effect resin, with a Medusa breastplate and imperial eagle inspired by the armour of his era. It is one of the best sellers of the collection and sits comfortably on a desk or a study shelf.
Augustus: the first emperor of Rome
Caesar's grand-nephew and adopted heir, Octavian, defeated Antony and Cleopatra at Actium in 31 BC and took the name Augustus in 27 BC — the date historians use for the start of the Empire. He reigned 41 years, reorganised the army and the provinces, and claimed to have found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble. The month of August still carries his name.
The Emperor Augustus statue in our collection is modelled on the Prima Porta Augustus, the famous full-length portrait now in the Vatican Museums, and finished in a refined bronze-effect coating.
Hadrian: the emperor who rebuilt the Pantheon
Hadrian ruled from AD 117 to 138 and spent much of his reign travelling the provinces rather than conquering new ones. The Pantheon as you see it in Rome today was rebuilt under him, and its dome is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. In Britain, the wall that marked the empire's northern edge carries his name.
You will find him in the collection as Emperor Hadrian — the bearded philosopher-emperor, the first Roman emperor to wear a beard in his official portraits, in the Greek fashion he admired.
The goddesses: Athena, Nike and Fortuna
Three female figures anchor the divine side of the collection. Athena, goddess of wisdom and disciplined warfare, presided over Athens and the Parthenon; the Romans worshipped her as Minerva, and her owl still stands for learning. Here she holds owl and spear, in resin with hand-finished bronze-style details.
The Nike of Samothrace reproduces the Winged Victory carved around 190 BC to celebrate a naval battle; the original stands at the top of a staircase in the Louvre. Fortuna, goddess of fortune, holds the overflowing cornucopia — Roman merchants kept her image close.
Medusa and Atlas: myth for the desk
In the myth, Perseus beheaded Medusa by watching her reflection in his polished shield rather than meeting her gaze. The Romans turned her head into a protective emblem worn on breastplates and shields — exactly where you will find her on our Caesar bust. The Medusa bust gives her the full treatment, each serpent modelled individually.
Atlas is the Titan condemned to hold up the heavens for eternity; ancient sculptors showed him bent under the celestial sphere. On a bookshelf he makes a pointed gift for anyone who shoulders a heavy load without complaint.
How to buy, and where to see the pieces in person
Every piece on this page is a contemporary reproduction sold as such — never an antiquity, and most of them hand-finished in Italy. Orders are placed through our Etsy shop, which shows the exact shipping cost for your country at checkout, and are dispatched within 1-2 working days; you have 14 days to return a piece.
If you are in Rome, you can buy in person: the shop is at Via Cavour 280, 50 metres from the Colosseum, open every day from 10:00 to 20:00. Customers rate it 4.9 on Google across 51 reviews. Plan your visit on the visit page, or browse the full Emperors & Gods collection online.
Common questions
Are these busts original antiquities?
No, and we never present them as such. Every piece is a contemporary reproduction — most hand-finished in Italy in bronze-effect resin. What you buy here is honest, well-made decorative sculpture, described exactly for what it is.
Do you have a Marcus Aurelius statue?
The online catalogue currently centres on Julius Caesar, Augustus and Hadrian, plus the gods and goddesses in this guide. If you are after a specific emperor such as Marcus Aurelius, ask in the shop at Via Cavour 280 — open every day from 10:00 to 20:00.
How long does delivery of a Julius Caesar bust take?
Orders are dispatched within 1-2 working days through our Etsy shop, which shows the exact shipping cost for your country at checkout. If you are in Rome, you can also buy directly at the shop in Via Cavour 280.
Can I see the emperors collection before buying?
Yes. The shop at Via Cavour 280 in Rome, 50 metres from the Colosseum, is open every day from 10:00 to 20:00. You can handle the pieces and compare the finishes in person.
Every piece in this guide lives in the boutique at Via Cavour 280, 50 m from the Colosseum — visit us, or order online.