A marble bust of a woman

Roman Empress Agrippina was a master strategist. She paid the price for it.

Rome’s hardball politics were off-limits to women, yet this great-granddaughter of Augustus won power for herself and her son, Nero, who would later have her murdered.

Agrippina’s portraits often depicted her with large almond-shaped eyes, a forehead framed by curls of hair, full lips, and a firm chin. Marble bust, first century A.D. Naples National Archaeological Museum
DEA/ALBUM
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