Nero and agrippina from the sebasteion at aphrodisias

Agrippina the Younger was ambitious, ruthless, and intelligent. The first true empress of Rome, her life ended in a tragic downfall. She was a great-granddaughter of Octavian Augustus , the first Roman emperor, a great-niece of Emperor Tiberius , a sister to Emperor Caligula, the wife of Emperor Claudius, and the mother to Emperor Nero.

Like her male relatives, Agrippina the Younger enjoyed immense power. However, she was a woman in a society ruled by men. Unlike the emperors, she had to fight to achieve that power.

She had to scheme and perhaps, even resort to murder. Those actions assured her the scorn of historians who, incidentally, were all men. Yet, they could not avoid, albeit grudgingly, admiring her efforts and accomplishments.

She was a true Roman empress. Honored with the title of Augusta in 50 CE, she wielded real political power and ruled as equal to her husband, Emperor Claudius. After his death in which she might have played a role , she continued to rule over the Empire along with her son Nero. Born in 15 CE in a military camp on the banks of the Rhine, Agrippina the Younger was destined for greatness. Her parents were prominent members of the ruling Julio-Claudian dynasty. Her father was Germanicus, a celebrated general and an adopted son of Emperor Tiberius — the heir to the imperial throne.

However, the life of little Agrippina was turned upside down when she was only four years old. While in Syria, her father suddenly fell ill and died. The death was highly controversial. During this time, Agrippina the Younger began learning the inner workings of the imperial court. In this, she enjoyed the support of the most powerful female trio in the Roman Empire: her mother, her great-grandmother Livia, and her grandmother Antonia. The lessons would serve Agrippina well, following the downfall and death of her mother and two of her older brothers in 31 CE.

Agrippina, only a teenager, had to adapt to survive the palace intrigues. Instead of challenging power head-on, as her mother had done, she chose to climb to the throne slowly and safely, navigating through a web of court politics and intrigues. These survival techniques would serve Agrippina well in the years that followed. It was a political arrangement the instigator was Emperor Tiberius , but the marriage probably protected Agrippina when a family tragedy struck a few years later.

The wheel of fortune turned once again in 37 CE. The emperor showered his three sisters with honors and included them in official prayers. Agrippina the Younger is depicted as Securitas, the security and strength of the Empire, while Drusilla and Livilla represent Concord and Fortune.

It is not possible to determine the veracity of these salacious rumors. At the age of 22, Agrippina gave birth to her only child, Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, who would become known as Nero. From that moment onwards, Agrippina was determined to achieve one thing: to make her son emperor. It was not wishful thinking. After all, Agrippina herself was royalty. Her brother was a legitimate emperor.

Yet, her goal was not selfless. As a woman, Agrippina was kept out of the political arena. Through her son, she had a chance to partake in imperial power, to climb to the very top — and to rule the Empire.

It needs to go to far Trojan War to find the answer. Being the son of a goddess had gained him an advantage. However, all Trojans were killed and the war was lost.

Aeneas, taken his father on the shoulders, hold the hand of his child and along with his wife, escaped to the mountain, Ida Kaz , with the help of the Goddess Aphrodite. After the legend of Odysseus and a thousand adventures reminiscent, Aeneas, who lost his wife and his father, come with his son to the Palatine Hill, where Rome city was founded in the future.

In there, he beat and killed the king Tumust of Rutuls in the single combat. These reliefs, which will be exhibited in a new museum near future, contain a rich subject. After the end of Paganism, with remaining portions over from the earthquake, Sebasteion had used as a shopping center. After the decline of the city, it collapsed and covered with silt brought by the floodwaters, on them were made of old Geyre village houses.

Moreover, a report and the findings, mentioned about the large Jewish community in Aphrodisias, the Synagogue and their sympathizers, are founded.

In addition to all of that magnificent structure, house structure, located within the town, academies, and schools of sculpture has also been uncovered. Most of these structure, figurative or geometric mosaic-style processed coatings, crafts and pottery have been found. Please use our contact form for all questions, suggestions and other issues.

Temple of Aphrodite. Aphrodisias Museum. Temple of Aphrodisias. The dress is of fine material and clings close to the lower torso, revealing the navel. A himation is draped in the normal manner, over her left shoulder, round the opposite hip, and wrapped over the left forearm.

In her hair she wears a stephane which is decorated with a small, central, leaf motif in low relief. She holds a large cornucopia in her left hand. The horn contains a central pomegranate. Both portrait heads were clearly based on official types of Nero and Agrippina that we know well.

In both heads, the hair arrangement is a quite detailed and particular rendering, while the face is more generalized. Source: Smith R.