Ara Pacis

• 13BC - decreed by senate on the day of Augustus' returned to rome from pacifying spain
• 9 BC - dedicated on the birthday og Augustus' wife, Livia
• built on campus martius - where military commanders laid aside their military power on entering the sacred boundary of the city of rome
• it was a subsitute honour instead of traditional celebration - erecting an arch - emphasised augustus role of brining peace
• first monument for the worship of peace
• Description(UPPER LEFT - EAST END)

  • Seated matronly goddess
  • holds two children
  • at feet - peaceful oc/cow/sheep
  • at the sides - two young women holding aloft the hems of their mantles
  • left woman - back of swan flying over an overturned water jug - represents fresh water/earth
  • right woman - back of tamed dragon over waves - representing sea
• Interpretation (UPPER LEFT - EAST END)

  • atmosphere of peace - emphasis on fecundity-Pax Augusta has been identified as the goddess due to:
  • absence throughout monumenta
  • pannle of peace would provide strong contrast on pannel on the right of triumphant roman
  • Augustian peace was a new deity - she takes on features of traditional goddesses (e.g Tellus - mother earth sitting on rock surrounded by image of natural world)
  • represent peacetime vertues of rome
• Description (UPPER RIGHT -EAST END)

  -Roma seated on trophy of weapons, referring to Rome as a peace-keeper of world through conquest
• Interpretation (UPPER RIGHT -EAST END)

  • represents warrior virtues of romans
  • links to north scene of front which includes mars - together they form a contrast with the two southern scenes showing roman peace
  • perhaps suggest military pacification is necessary for roman peace
• Upper friezes along the sides - Description

  • hellenistic style
  • they show the same procession form alternative viewpoints of the street
  • almost life sized figures
  • at the front of both sides are priests of various kinds and roman officials
  • they are followed by members of imperial family
• Upper friezes - possible occasions

  • reception from gaul 13BC
  • idealised vision of pious Augustus bringing peace and return of golden age to rome
• Upper Friezes - interpretation

  • Individuals shown in family groups:
  • to add variety and humanity to what otherwise be somewhat monotonous procession
  • children symbolised augustus' hopes for the continuation of the dynasty
  • children continue the theme of pax panel - ideas of peace and prosperity
  • imperial family in groups reminded viewers of social legislation - high birth rates among upper classes
  • Augustus wears a toga - symbollic of a civic eader
• Description (Upper right - west end)

  • Aeneas with head covered
  • taking part in a religious ceremony - sacrificing a pig to the household Gods
• Description - (Upper left - west end)

  • Mars, the twins, the she wolf and faustulus
  • portraying the myth then with Mars and Faustulus standing above them
• Interpretation - (Upper left - west end)

  • the inclusion of mars conveys pace was attainable through pacification
• Vegital Friezes

  • vines, acanthus. several other plants
  • represents the natural bounty and fertility of rome
  • the symmetry of plants could reference the strict social order that Augustus brought
• Ara Pacis - social

  • vegital friezes provide idea that rome was fertile and plentiful
  • symmertary - strict social order
  • clothing - pieas, peaceful
• Ara Pacis - Religious

  • popularity to pax
  • reminds romans of his connection to Gods - Aeneas, venus' son
• Ara Pacis - religious

  • humility as the senate commisioned the monument
  • peace brought through pacification
• Hellenistic style

  • links with cultural prestiage of the classical greece
  • sophistication of the greek culture