Gordian III - Paris, France
Posted by: 
Metro2
N 48° 51.666 E 002° 20.138
31U E 451271 N 5412227
Gordian III was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244.
Waymark Code: WMEG1N
Location: Île-de-France, France
Date Posted: 05/24/2012
Views: 16
This lifesized marble sculpture of Gordian III depicts him from head to nearly his waist. He is shown as a young man (he was only 13 years old when he became Emperor). His right forearm is missing, and his left hand seems to be grasping a missing item. He wears a robe over what appears to be an armored shirt.
Wikipedia (
visit link) informs us that at age 13 Gordian III:
"...became the youngest sole legal Roman emperor throughout the existence of the united Roman Empire. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and an unnamed Roman Senator who died before 238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Very little is known on his early life before his acclamation. Gordian had assumed the name of his maternal grandfather in 238...
Due to Gordian's age, the imperial government was surrendered to the aristocratic families, who controlled the affairs of Rome through the Senate. In 240, Sabinianus revolted in the African province, but the situation was quickly brought under control. In 241, Gordian was married to Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, daughter of the newly appointed praetorian prefect, Timesitheus. As chief of the Praetorian guard and father in law of the Emperor, Timesitheus quickly became the de facto ruler of the Roman Empire."