Prima Porta

• Who was the Prima Porta made for?

  Augustus wife, Livia
• When was it made?

  Between 20BC-14AD
• Who was it commissioned by?

  Senate
• What was it made of?

  Marble
• Where did it stand?

  Livias villa in Prima Porta
• What is its significance?

  Example of Augustan propaganda
• What was the Prima Porta based on?

  The Greek Doryphorus (spear-bearer)
• Who made the Doryphorus?

  Polykleitos
• Why was the Doryphorus praised?

  For its depiction of an ideal man
• What style of art is Doryphorus by Polykleitos?

  Contrapposto
• What does the pose /gesture show?

  A general addressing his army
• What does the senatorial toga show?

  A reminder of his prestige and political authority
• Curiass

  breastplate
• What does the breastplate emphasise?

  Augustus military achievements
• What does the posture echo?

  Doryphoros and the contrapposto pose suggesting youthful, flawless athleticism, connects him to Athenian golden age
• What does his bare feet symbolise?

  Usually reserved for heroes and gods. Augustus called himself a divi filius (son of a god)
• What does cupid symbolise on the statue?

  Son of Venus. Connects Augustus to Aeneas from whom he claimed ancestry and links him to the divine
• What does the dolphin symbolise?

  Link to Venus and her birth in the sea
• Who is the figure on the left in the middle of Augustus breastplate?

  Roman- wears ciurass, helmet, and military boots
• What link does Augustus breastplate have to Romulus?

  The animal under the Roman-dog or she wolf
• What is the figure on the right in the middle of Augustus breastplate?

  A Parthian barbarian- tunic and baggy trousers. Believed to be the Parthian King
• Who could the Roman figure also be?

  Mars Ultor, Tiberius, or a representation of the Roman army
• What do the personified countries signify?

  The countries Augustus had conquered reflecting his expansion of the empire
• Who is the God at the top of his breastplate?

  Caelius the sky god
• Who is the god to the left of Caelius?

  Sun god Sol in a four horse chariot
• Who is to the right of Caelius?

  Aurora (the dawn) and Luna (the moon)
• What does the sphynx symbolise?

  Victory over Egypt at the Battle of Actium in 31BC
• What is the symbolism of Spain?

  Personified as a mourning woman to symbolise the Pax Romana
• What does the captive female barbarian represent?

  Other conquered peoples- Pax Romana
• What is Apollo on?

  A griffin
• What does Apollo symbolise?

  Reflecting the gods support of Augustus. He considered Apollo a patron and built a temple to him
• Who is holding the cornucopia?

  Either the river god Tiber or Mars Ultor (the avenger)
• What is Diana on?

  A stag