Portrait of a philosopher, possibly the Greek cynic and satirist Menippus?

Copy in plaster acquired in 1897 made on a Roman copy of a lost, Greek original in Hellenistic style form the 3rd. Century BCE, found in the “Villa of the Antonines” (Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus and Commodus’ family estate) outside Rome. Menippos form Jordan was born as a slave, but bought himself free, and turned philosopher and criticist. He invented a new, special genre that targeted the public opinion directly, the satirical cynicists mocking of institutions, costums and ideas of his time, which we all know well today as present in stand -up comedy and satire on public television.