This is a head of emperor Diocletian. From the Enc. Britt.: born AD 245 , Salonae?, Dalmatia [now Solin, Croatia], died 316, Salonae. Latin in full Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus , original name Diocles. Roman emperor (284–305), who restored efficient government to the empire after the near anarchy of the 3rd century. His reorganization of the fiscal, administrative, and military machinery of the empire laid the foundation for the Byzantine Empire in the East and temporarily shored up the decaying empire in the West. His reign is also noted for the last great persecution of the Christians.