Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs — Attraction in Venice

This interesting sculptural detail incorporated into a part of the magnificent Basilica of San Marco arouses our curiosity. Another hidden gem of Venice. The history and significance of this sculpture is extremely important. Porphyry sculpture portraying the four Tetrarchs (Diocletian, Maximianus, Galerius and Constantius Chlorus) embracing. The Tetrarchy was the system instituted by Roman Emperor Diocletian in 293 to govern the ancient Roman Empire by dividing it between two senior emperors, the augusti, and their juniors and designated successors, the caesares. The sculpture is dated to c. 300 CE and was sculpted in Asia Minor. It was initially part of the decorations of the Philadelphion (“place of brotherly love”), which was a public square located in Constantinople. The sculpture of Tetrarchs was plundered during the Fourth Crusade in 1204, brought to Venice, and incorporated here into the St Mark’s Basilica. Each tetrarch looks the same, without any individualized characteristics, except that two, probably representing the older augusti, have beards, and two do not who might have symbolized the Caesars. The group is divided into pairs, each embracing, which unites Augusti and Caesars together. The overall effect suggests unity and stability. The very choice of material, the durable porphyry (which came from Egypt), symbolizes a permanence and rigidity reminiscent of Egyptian statuary. Porphyry was rare and expensive, hard to obtain in sculptural quantities, and therefore limited to imperial honorands in statuary. Porphyry was the material of choice for the late Imperial Rome. The vividness of porphyry compared to other stones underscored that these figures had special status worthy of the respect they expected. The color itself would have caused the public to remember how they were to behave in the presence of the emperors who wore the purple of their office. The term porphyry is from Ancient Greek and means “purple.” Purple was the color of royalty, and the “imperial porphyry” was a deep purple igneous rock with large crystals of...

Tucked away in a corner of St. Mark’s Basilica, near the southern entrance, stands one of Venice’s most intriguing yet often-overlooked treasures: The Four Tetrarchs. This striking porphyry sculpture, dating back to the late Roman Empire (circa 300 AD), depicts four rulers—two senior emperors (Augusti) and their junior co-rulers (Caesars)—embracing in unity, symbolizing the power-sharing system established by Emperor Diocletian.

The sculpture itself is a marvel of history and mystery. Crafted from deep red porphyry, a stone reserved for imperial use, it was likely looted from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade (1204) and brought to Venice as spoils of war. One of the most fascinating details is that one of the tetrarchs is missing a foot—historians believe it was left behind in Constantinople, where a matching fragment was later discovered.

A particularly interesting aspect is the tetrarchs’ staffs, which feature bird-like heads at the top. While their exact meaning remains debated, they may represent eagles, a symbol of imperial power, or stylized phoenixes, signifying renewal and the endurance of the empire.

Though small in size, The Four Tetrarchs encapsulates Venice’s deep historical connections to the Byzantine world, offering visitors a glimpse into the city’s rich past. If you’re exploring St. Mark’s Basilica, take a moment to seek out this hidden gem—you’ll be standing before a relic that has traveled through...

What is with the big eyes? Why did roman sculptors suddenly decide to degrade their skills? Roman portraits went from verism (realistic-looking portraits with natural shapes and facial features, to Simple, boxy, big eyed horrors. I'm pretty sure those dominate era people were trying to sue the sculptors for doing such terrible work. The first emperor to have a low quality portrait on their coins was Gallienus. his bust portrait is fantastic, but his coin portrait's neck is boxy, and his head is to small. His successors had decent busts, but their coins look to similar. AURELIAN DID NOT LOOK...