Reply to Thread

Message:: [QUOTE="Valentinian, post: 3307275, member: 44316"]Usually the accepted distinction is that Gordian II is balding and Gordian I is not (I remember it as the opposite of what might be expected since Gordian I was older and might be expected to be balder, but he was not). That makes the OP #3 Gordian I because his forehead hairline is clear. The #1 has surface concerns that makes it hard to tell if it originally had a hairline at the forehead or not, but I think not. #1 and #2 seem to show the balding of Gordian II. About that bust of "Gordian I" in the museum. Most marble busts are identified by their resemblance to coin portraits, not the other way around. It is unlikely that bust was found labeled as to who it was. Those who know the coins help museum people identify their busts. The bust of "Gordian I" shows the expected lack of balding, which is almost certainly why it was assigned to Gordian I as opposed to Gordian II.[/QUOTE]