Colossal head of Emperor Julian

The Roman colossal head attributed to Julian the Apostate is indeed a fascinating work of art, even if it is incomplete and unfinished. If the attribution to Julian is correct, it is a unique and important piece of ancient art history, both in terms of its depiction of the emperor and its historical context. 

Julian, known for his philosophy and his rejection of Christianity, was often depicted as a 'Greek scholar', which is recognizable in this colossal head - the beard and the way his face and hair are rendered reflect this intellectual character. There are portraits of Julian on coins as well as a statue in Paris that is said to depict him, but this is also not without controversy. Therefore, the Mainz head, if it really depicts Julian, would be the only surviving colossal head of the emperor. However, whether it really is a portrait of the emperor as he looked during his lifetime has not yet been conclusively clarified.