Ara Pacis

Created by: revisinggoose
Created on: 26-04-14 12:17

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Ara Pacis & Symbolism
- Divine ancestry
- Peace
  - Ara Pacis Augustae itself translates to 'Altar of Augustan Peace'
  - Often interpreted as strictly ideological, the embodiment of the idea that peace is the result of a just war
- Wealth
  - The vegetal friezes with ivy & grape leaves, on the external walls of the Ara, suggest rebirth & fruitfulness associated with Augustus' reign
- Validation by past history/myth
  - Western & Eastern facades bear 4 mythological scenes
    - 2 reliefs of the western entrance depict events from Rome's legendary history
      - Romulus & Remus under the Ficus Ruminalis, flanked by Mars & Faustulus
      - & on the opposite side, Aeneas, the mythical founder of Rome
- Traditional power structures
- Religious revival
  - Practical purpose of sacrificial practices
    - Every year the officials, priests and vestal virgins celebrated a sacrifice at the Altar in memory of Augustus' return.
  - Augustus is represented in the south frieze as Pontifex Maximus, amongst the pontifices and flamines, performing sacrifices
  - Interior walls decorated with bull's skulls, referring to the sacrificial feasts, sacrificial bowls & fruited garlands
- Propriety, both legal & behavioural
- prosperity
  - The viewer was meant to read the 2 images of Tellus & Roma together
    - This conveyed the message that blessing & prosperity were won and made secure by Roma, the warrior goddess
- Augustus' achievements
  - Often referred to as a literal embodiment of Augustus' Res Gestae
- Imperial Family
  - Did the Ara Pacis ultimately serve the dynastic pretensions of the absolutist ruler & his dynasty?
  - Recognise Agrippa, Livia, Tiberius, Julia, Antonia the younger & elder, and Octavia, amongst others

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Ara Pacis

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