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I like my emperors like I like my pudding...
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<p>[QUOTE="OutsiderSubtype, post: 5197051, member: 112457"]I have some beefy-necked Tetrarchs.</p><p><br /></p><p>Constantius from Ticinum:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1214576[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Maximian from Antioch:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1214578[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Diocletian from Ticinum:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1214579[/ATTACH] </p><p>Galerius from Thessalonica:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1214580[/ATTACH] </p><p>As for the decline in portrait quality since the adoptive emperors, it's clearly real, but I think the similarity and stylized nature of their portraits was all part of Diocletian's plan. </p><p><br /></p><p>All the emperors look the same. The regime is sending a message that it doesn't matter <i>which</i> emperor is on your coin, so long as it's one of the four. Just like it doesn't matter which emperor is hearing your petition, or leading your army, or judging your law case, as long as it's one of the four. A big part of why Diocletian did what he did was spreading the administrative load among multiple shoulders.</p><p><br /></p><p>The other reason Diocletian did what he did was he didn't want to get assassinated. See, it doesn't matter <i>exactly</i> what the emperor looks like. He's so far above you that you'll probably never get more than a glimpse of him. Acting against him is like acting against a god. No need to show his exact features - just showing the idea of him is enough.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="OutsiderSubtype, post: 5197051, member: 112457"]I have some beefy-necked Tetrarchs. Constantius from Ticinum: [ATTACH=full]1214576[/ATTACH] Maximian from Antioch: [ATTACH=full]1214578[/ATTACH] Diocletian from Ticinum: [ATTACH=full]1214579[/ATTACH] Galerius from Thessalonica: [ATTACH=full]1214580[/ATTACH] As for the decline in portrait quality since the adoptive emperors, it's clearly real, but I think the similarity and stylized nature of their portraits was all part of Diocletian's plan. All the emperors look the same. The regime is sending a message that it doesn't matter [I]which[/I] emperor is on your coin, so long as it's one of the four. Just like it doesn't matter which emperor is hearing your petition, or leading your army, or judging your law case, as long as it's one of the four. A big part of why Diocletian did what he did was spreading the administrative load among multiple shoulders. The other reason Diocletian did what he did was he didn't want to get assassinated. See, it doesn't matter [I]exactly[/I] what the emperor looks like. He's so far above you that you'll probably never get more than a glimpse of him. Acting against him is like acting against a god. No need to show his exact features - just showing the idea of him is enough.[/QUOTE]
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