The Bust of Commodus as Hercules and the Head of Caracalla

When looking at the Bust of Commodus as Hercules and the Head of Caracalla side by side, I see two completely different men yet they both still have such a similar meaning behind the creation of their statues. 

The Bust of Commodus as Hercules appears to have  what looks like a lion wrapped around him, The mouth of the lion covers Commodus' head with its sharp teeth lining Commodus' head. The paws of the lion rest on Commodus' chest, and Commodus holds a bat his right hand as if he had just dominated this lion. He wears the lion skin as if it is his trophy to show his courage and strength. The way he holds his bat over his shoulder makes him look as if he is showing off and showing those, perhaps under his rule, that he is capable of taking charge. Just like the sculpture of Augustus of Primaporta, Commodus is portrayed as a God. Augustus was barefoot giving him the appearance of a God while Commodus is given the appearance of Hercules. With a God-like appearance, they would probably be more appealing to others around them or the people under their control. Below Commodus is a head-less and arm-less figure. They figure has features that could resemble either a man or a woman.Their breasts are shaped more like a woman's breasts yet the leg and the foot looks very masculine. Next to the figure is a sphere, leading up to what looks like a shield with the Sun in the middle of it. On top of theses objects, rest the powerful looking Commodus. His body is very muscular and even his facial air is given an orderly look to it. Overall, with his bat, perfect hair, muscular body, a God like face, and trophies surround him, Commodus appears to be a strong and courageous ruler. 

The Head of Caracalla is very similar to the Portrait Head of an Elder statue. They both show a mans face and in each sculpture, we see men who look aged and worn out. Caracalla has fine lines or perhaps wrinkles on his forehead and cheeks. Because of these lines, his cheeks appear to be saggy. He has his eyebrows creased as if he is angry or unhappy. He looks as if he has been defeated with such a stern look on his face. Also, his jaw looks clenched as if he is angry. The fact that his eyes are looking up makes me think that he is looking up to someone who has defeated him. Normally throughout the pieces that we have viewed so far, those who defeat look down upon their enemy but Caracalla is looking up. He also has creases below his eyes making them look tired and saggy. Unlike, the Bust of Commodus as Hercules, the Head of Caracalla gives off the impression of defeat and a real man, not a man seen as a Godly figure. Caracalla depicts a real man who has done his time as a ruler. 

Although both of these sculptures depict two different men in two opposite forms, they are both similar in a sense that they both portray propaganda. Commodus being viewed as a God, Hercules, a man that he is not, probably made people believe that he was a God-like man with the great courage and power. The fact that he is also seen with trophies around him such as the lion skin that he wears and the headless figure below him. makes him also seem powerful to the viewers of this statue. One can propagate from this bust that Commodus was the perfect ruler. The Head of Caracalla's old and defeated look still makes him look appealing to his viewers giving a sense that he was a hard worker and gave it his all as a ruler. Just like the Portrait Head of an Elder, he looks as if he has the wisdom and experience of a powerful and successful ruler. I feel that both of the statues appeal to the same audience which would be those who they ruled, future generations, and enemies. The fact that they are both almost praising these men as rulers shows that they wanted people then and now to see them the way they are depicted in these sculptures. 

All in all, even though both of these sculptures portray two different men, one full of strength and one very fragile looking, they both show a sense of courage and strength through their propagating features.