Explanation: The bust on the left is of Marcus Aurelius, a philosopher-Emperor who was renowned for his justice and attentiveness to administration, as well as being an active leader of military forces against barbarian invasions.

The bust on the right is his son, Commodus, the first time a son ‘born in the purple’ succeeded his father as Emperor. He was an incompetent maniac obsessed with gladiator games who tried to rename the Roman Empire after himself and was eventually assassinated, kicking off a massive civil war.