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Comparison of Severan copy of Athena Parthenos and 13th century Virgin and Mary The Severan copy of Athena Parthenos and an early 13th century Virgin child are two pieces at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts that compare and contrast in several ways. ....

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.... in so many ancient cities in need of dietous protection. 1 This particular piece is of Severan creation. The Severans came to power in the late second century. Marcus Aurelius¹ son Commodus succeeded his father in 180, only to inherit an empire that was becoming increasingly harder to uphold , and imperial order was being threatened. Eventually, he was assassinated , and the Roman world was thrown into civil discord. Septimius Severus emerged as the new emperor in 193 after proclaiming himself to be Marcus Aurelius¹ son. 2 The Severan¹s hometown was called Lepcis Magna, on the coast of what is now Libya. In the early third century ....