Adana Müzesi’ndeki Nerva Büstü
Nerva Bust at Adana Museum

Summary/Abstract: It is known that only three portraits of Nerva, who had been the emperor after the last emperor of the Flavius Era, Domitian, was killed upon the “Damnatio Memori” decision in 96 A.D., were made during his reign. The most important characteristic of Nerva in his aforementioned portraits available in Copenhagen, Florence and Roma is his slightly wrinkled forehead, roman nose structure, small lips, small but strong jaw bones and cheekbones. The emperor with such characteristics is the same as his portraits on the coins of that era. Since the bronze bust at considerably small dimensions, taken out of sea by fishermen in 1984 in the town Yumurtalık of the province Adana in 1984 and exhibited in the Museum of Adana at current period, shows similar characteristics, it is thought that this bust belongs to the emperor Nerva. Thus, the availability of another bust belonging to Nerva being estimated that just a restricted number of his portraits were made as a result of short reign such as two years has also been determined beyond Roma and western provinces and the expectations indicated that there may be various other busts of Nerva available despite of his short reign.

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