Context (Acquisition Details)
At an unknown date this object was assigned a Z number (Z 15184), which was later struck through, presumably once it was identified as being D 1948.5.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Found together / assemblage)
According to the 1855 Report of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, this bust was 'found near Cottenham, in a gravel pit close to the borders of Landbeach parish, and in company with much broken coarse Roman pottery' (p. 9). The date of discovery is not given.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Field collection)
From a pond in Bullock's Haste, TL 46557038.
Event Date
Author: Annie McKay

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Description (Labels & Markings)
Marked "Rev. S. Banks, 1887".
Event Date
Author: maa

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Context (References)
(1855). 'Antiquities and Works of Art Exhibited'. The Archaeological Journal, vol. 12. pp. 200-201
Event Date 1855
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
(1855). 'An Abstract of the Proceedings at the Meetings of the Society: 12 March 1855'. Report of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, p. 9
Event Date 1855
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Display)
Exhibited by Rev. S. Banks at the 12 March 1855 meeting of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society.
Event Date 12/3/1855
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Display)
Exhibited by C.C. Babington at a meeting of the Archaeological Institute on 13 April 1855.
Event Date 13/4/1855
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Other owners)
The Report for the meeting of 14 November 1881 where this bust was displayed, describes it as 'from the Banks collection' but a later note added that it was 'since bought by the Fitzwilliam Museum'. Banks has therefore been added to the Source field.
Event Date 1881
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Display)
Exhibited by Professor Hughes at the 14 November 1881 meeting of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society.
Event Date 14/11/1881
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
(1884). 'An Abstract of the Proceedings at the Meetings of the Society: Nov. 14, 1881'. Report of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, p. xxxv-xxxvi
Event Date 1882
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (References)
Heichelheim, F. M. (1937). 'On Some Unpublished Roman Bronze Statuettes in the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge'. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, 37. pp. 53-54, Pl. IVa.
Event Date 1937
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Description (Physical description)
Bronze bust of Commodus, with detached helmet bearing a mask
Event Date 1948
Author: maa

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Context (References)
Toynbee, J. M. C. (1962). Art in Roman Britain. London: Phaidon Press. p. 125 (cat. no. 5), Pl. 5
Event Date 1962
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (References)
Salway, P. (1970). The Fenland in Roman Times. London: Royal Geographical Society. p. 212
Event Date 1970
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (References)
Wiles, J. J. and C. R. Elrington (eds). (1978). Victoria History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely, vol 7: Roman Cambridgeshire. Oxford. pp. 80-81, frontispiece
Event Date 1978
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (References)
Taylor, Alison. (1998). 'South East Cambridgeshire and the Fen Edge'. Archaeology of Cambridgeshire. Vol. 2. p. 27.
Event Date 1998
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

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Context (References)
Walker, S. (2014). 'Emperors and Deities in Rural Britain: A Copper-Alloy Head of Marcus Aurelius from Steane, near Brackley (Northants.)'. Britannia, 45. p. 231, Fig. 5c
Event Date 2014
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Analysis)
This bust was originally identified as either emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180) or his son, emperor Commodus (180-192) but by 2014 it had been confidently identified as Commodus.
Event Date 8/1/2015
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Description (Physical description)
Hollow bronze bust of the emperor Commodus, bearded and mustached, with the hair indicated as modeled curls by incised lines. He wears a draped garment gathered at the right shoulder and three snakes on an aegis appear as wavy ridges. His helmet is decorated with a male face with a long mustache and a torc-like design beneath it.
Event Date 8/1/2015
Author: maa