Focus on Commodus as Hercules and discuss the Intent.
There is speculation about the Emperor's intent in creating depictions of himself as a godlike figure. Some sources say it was Commodus's desire to be not merely the protégé of Hercules, but a god, the incarnation, the epiphany of Hercules. Others claim instead that he simply desired to be the center of attention and show his intense appreciation for games and spectacles.Archaeologist and museum director Mortimer Wheeler suggested that although the bust would have been made for Commodus or someone close to him at the court, and the mythological topic decided by the patron, the artist was deliberately subverting the flattering subject and casting the flamboyant emperor in an ironic light: the contrast between the trappings of Hercules, the real hero (lion hide and club, etc.), and the "effeminate" and self-obsessed emperor shown in stone here is too grotesque to be taken only as an idolizing portrait, and the hidden intention becomes ironic. "The sculptor must have felt very sure of his ground, protected by the blind vanity of his sitter".
"There is one speculation that Commodus suffered a great tragedy. Based On sculpture and reference, there is reason to see that Commodus was blinded by a man and his betrothed was butchered before his very eyes. This is speculative, but the references made in marble tell all. There is reason to think he fell deeply in love with a chieftans daughter who was sacrificed as part of a war demonstration on the fontlines, where Commodus was kicked in the eye by a horse and was replaced with the eye of a sheep. The wound may have gotten infectious and Commodus could have succumbed. However he died while being taken to Rome. This speculation arises from an examination of Sargon of Akkad, c.2500bc."
Commodus sculpture Mortimer Wheeler Rome marble god portrait Hercules