Also, as A Walk Through Augustan Rome explains, the overall structure of the Ara Pacis is a "paean to the fecundity, wealth, and harmony made possible by the Augustan Peace. Marble used to be shipped all the way from Greece, however once the marble from Luna was found Augustus transformed the city. Posted at Feb 17/2011 11:03PM: cklimansilver: Roman art is steeped in history and supported by a unified pride for Rome's past. Not only did he use this technique for himself, but also for his predecessors and living family members to emphasize the strength and righteousness of the royal family in which Augustus came. He constructed the forum because the two already in existence could not deal with the great number of lawsuits. (Suetonius p.59) Through this he obviously bettered the Roman existence and integrated his own name within the typical workings of republican life, making his power seem less threatening. Additionally, Augustus used art and architecture to just contribute to Romes overall glory. When Augustus abruptly came to power in 44 BCE, not yet 19 years old, he knew that he would need to continue to prove his right to rule the Romans. Augustus also tactfully borrowed stylistic and architectural elements from other cultures. The temple itself is a statement of political presence; Augustus dedicated this temple to Mars, the god of war and revenge in honor of defeating Caesars murderers: Brutus and Cassius. Public benefaction was important to pleasing the citizens and gaining their respect and support. This new trend was one of eternal youth, his portraits never showing any sign of aging. Therefore, the Ara Pacis confirms the imperial familys right to rule while promoting a political agenda. In Rome there was a fictional insistence on a long family heritage, as sound ancestry important in Rome. Its dedication to Julius Cesar not only served as a justification for Julius construction, but was also filled with statues in the porticos. Quoted in Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars. It also shows the Roman life as being prosperous and containing much fertility. He manipulated and contrived his own image in order to gain and maintain power. The forum contained the Temple of Mars Ultor, a temple which Augustus had promised to build during the Battle of the Philippi. Once it was built, he decreed that the Senate should meet there whenever declarations of war or claims for triumphs were considered, arguably the two most important actions that Rome could take. This not only represents the peace he promised Rome but it also deifies Augustus by likening him to the barefooted statues of the gods. A primary motive for the artistic piece can be seen as an attempt to have the public instill trust in Augustus and recognize the facts evident on the altar. Ordinary Romans could feel the effects of his remarkable reign in their every day lives. Aqueducts ran clean water into fountains and baths in the city, new roads were paved making transportation much more comfortable thereby encouraging trade, and the sewer system was cleaned. On one side of the coin, hes presented with a mourners bead, presumably mourning Caesar, and his name is given as Divi Filius (son of God). In this way, his family begins to attain the same fame and affection that he has as ruler. Augustus breastplate additionally legitimizes his place in history. These images evoked not Augustus as a man, but as the divi filius, son of a God. nelder: Augustus had a unique challenge when he came to power. In a lengthy document known as the Res Gestae Divi Augistus engraved on two bronze tablets Augustus enumerates his achievements as emperor. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. This allows the people to have some sort of security in granting sole power to one person. His brushstrokes were bright, thick, and sweeping as his political ideology was supported by his emphasis on the divinity of his family lineage, personal military accomplishments, and most importantly, his repeated messages of gift and fortune bestowed upon the people of Rome. "The sea I pacified from pirates" latin: [Mare pacavi a praedonibus] description: in the time of Octavian, in 5 BCE, the threat of pirates was dealt with. Augustus seamlessly weaves together Romes mythological history with his own family lineage by placing images of gods and his relatives next to one another. The gigantic work of reorganization that he carried out in every field of Roman life and throughout the entire empire not only transformed the decaying republic into a new, monarchic regime with many centuries of life ahead of it but also created a durable Roman peace, based on easy communications and flourishing trade. All members of the family in the image on the Ara Pacis are dressed in proper clothing and made to look like Augustus. If so, then applause, because the comedy is finished! His stance resembles Classical Greek sculpture, in particular the Doryphorus, one of the most famous works of art at the time. nwalker:Augustus reign as emperor of Rome was filled with subtle attempts at portraying power without an entirely overruling stance. Julius Caesar was also thought to be an ancestor of Aeneas, the founder of Rome and son of Venus. By situating the Temple of Divus Iulius at one end of the open Forum Romanum, framed by the two great basilicas to the north and south, Augustus made his fathers shrine the centerpiece of the symbolic heart of the city and of the Empire (Kleiner, 63). More impressive is how he used public spaces to look back in time and revere his ancestors (both divine and human) and pay homage by portraying the past as an omen of good fortune in the future. The Ara Pacis, which was built in honor of Augustus successful military campaigns in Spain and Gaul, consisted of a large altar surrounded by a protective wall; both the wall and the altar were ornately decorated with intricate Luna marble relief sculpture, depicting images of garlands, mythological scenes of Romes founding, and a vast procession of Augustus with his family. ] -- Suetonius, When I am dead let the earth be dissolved in fire. -- Suetonius, He [Caesar Augustus] found a city built of brick; he left it built of marble. Augustus' Res Gestae iterates many of these ideas. Augustus also utilized his extensive public building program to further his personal and political agenda. From the subtle details in the statuary that depicted him to the large public works named after family, Augustus did everything to make sure his rule went smoothly. In his Res Gestae, Augustus repaired the Theater of Pompey, each work at enormous cost, without any inscription of my name. On the reverse he is joined by a profile of Divus Julius himself. If you want to know more or withdraw your consent to all or some of the cookies, please refer to the. In rebuilding the theater of Pompey, Augustus first of all demonstrated his dedication to the Roman people through spending a great amount of money to give them culture and entertainment. For example, as Suetonius points out, Augustus used his Forum as a means to this very specific end. Ultimately, Octavians method, of emphasizing his Roman heritage, won out. 1. By combining statuary of Roman and Augustan men, Augustus showed how his own lineage was intertwined with the Roman lineage. This divine lineage gave Augustus leverage with which he could convince the Roman people of his right to rule. We write our names in the sand: and then the waves roll in and wash them away. -. The Pont-du-Gard aqueduct is an example of a huge plumbing project bringing fresh water to thousands of residents. As mentioned in the Res Gustae, Augustus revamped the Theater of Pompey and turned it into the Theater of Marcellus. Image in society, even today is essential to public figures because reputation and image are key components in maintaining a solid foundation in leadership; They only showed Augustus as he wished to be seen, as a godlike leader, a superior being who, miraculously, was eternally youthful (Kleiner 67). Further, Augustus had different statues and portraits made of him as each type of ruler. "Suetonius." The Roman people had deified Julius Caesar, and Julius being Augustus adopted father made Augustus the divi filius that was portrayed in his portraiture. Click anywhere in the This tacitly implied that Augustus family would play a role in the stability and success of Rome in the future. The Temple to Mars, the war god, was to gain his help in pursuing the murders of Caesar. icanal: With the beginning of a new era under Augustus, Roman art entered a new time where the majority of the resources of the state were directly put into promoting his political ideology, artistic taste and redesigning of the history as the single ruler. In this capacity, the forum was a gesture of goodwill towards the people of Rome indeed, as it provided another venue for public exchange of goods, services, and justice. It was dedicated to Mars in order to thank him for helping Augustus to avenge Caesar (Suetonious, page 30). The crucial fact is that each member of Roman society was treated in the same manner, driving in the point of unity and consequently strengthening Augustus power as the sole ruler of a unified people. nvitrano: In ancient times art and architecture were the only media available for advertisement and the spread of information visually. These sorts of massive public works projects had a direct effect on the everyday lives of many people. 13.8) quotes from Menander. The altar commemorates the peace which he brought upon the empire after centuries of bloodshed and war. Posted at Feb 18/2011 10:17AM: ). [On Caligula] The method of execution he preferred was to inflict numerous small wounds; and his familiar order: 'Make him feel that he is dying!' The reading by Favro describes how the altar would have told the message of the peace, fertility and perpetuity of the Augustan era. If I have played my part well, clap your hands, and dismiss me with applause from the stage. We want people all over the world to learn about history. Augustus Forum, however, can be seen as an unnecessary building of monumental dedication to himself. He cites the construction of the Forum Augusti as a gift to the people: Augustus had the forum constructed to help handle the increase in the number of lawsuits caused by a corresponding increase in population, (30). Ancient politians didnt have television, radio, and the internet at there finger tips. The figures along the side of the alter move with a calm and quiet demeanor, as if they know that there is little urgency to win the gods favor as is the case in battle. In the statue of Augustus as Imperator, Augustus is shown with Cupid and is barefoot, reminding Romans of Augustus divine roots. He uses public buildings as a means of glorifying not only himself, but also his heirs and family. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Similar to the frieze of the Parthenon in Athens, a procession appears on the sides of the imperial family. You, boy, who owe everything to a name. On the one hand, it was particularly useful to stress his right as the son of a god and even descended in the lineage of Venus. The statues asserted his claims as emperor in that it connected him not only to Cesar, but also to the founders Romulus and the Goddess of Rome, Roma. He portrayed himself next to great figures of history to declare himself as one of them. ylee: When Julius Caesar was assassinated in March 44 BCE, the city of Rome was suddenly plunged into political turmoil due to abrupt vacancy in leadership. I rebuilt aqueducts in many places that had decayed with age In addition, he declined the dictatorship offered to him. However, after that, the he decided to not prevent the mass destruction of Julias image when she was viewed as disgraceful again. In the year 14 C.E. ereese: Though the name Augustus does not come readily to mind when describing art and architecture for propagandistic purposes to the modern viewer, he very well should have a place with the best of them due to his cunning use of these mediums to craft himself into a leader of the one of the worlds most substantial empires. As seen in (Kleiner) Augustus was a master of using the arts as well as mythology to express his political agendas and to give pedigree to his right as the heir of Rome. Kleiner demonstrates a good example of the balance in the discussion of two statues of Augustus, Augustus as Imperator and Augustus as Pontifex Maxmimus. In the porticos and exedras of the Temple, Augustus presented himself as the latest in a long line of Roman great men, including Aeneas, Romulus, and other senators and consuls of the Republic in general and of the Julian family in particular (F. Kleiner 66). On the obverse Augustus is seen with a scraggly beard, suggesting that he is in mourning, and there is the inscription DIVI F CAESAR, which translates to Caesar, son of the god (Julius Caesar, that is). He is not only a summus vir in his own right, but also associated with the summi viri of yore. He needed the Roman people and senate not to fear that he would become a tyrant but he also needed them to revere him enough such that they would allow him to be emperor. Check your curiosity and learn something new about the ancient world of the Romans. He indicates that both were a huge expense but he funded them himself. He did this by holding public prosecution and casting lots for jury service in the newly built forum. Taking the fatal death of Julius Caesar as a lesson, he proclaimed himself supreme leader while convincing the people that without him Rome would not be as great. Rome and her provinces were always receptive to generous gifts of roads, aqueducts and civil buildings. o puer, qui omnia nomini debes. Posted at Feb 17/2011 10:56PM: He was Julius Caesars rightful successor and his rule helped right the wrong that was Caesars assassination. In Rome, where it was essential that he maintain a more humble profile, statues portrayed Augustus as a priest. On the other side of the monument, mythical scenes of gods and goddesses are portrayed. Kleiner emphasizes the youthful appearance of all of the portraits of Augustus. Though he improved such practical necessities such as aqueducts, sewage, drainage systems, and other endeavors that benefited his people (recounted in his Res Gestae), these are not among his most astounding nor grand revolutionizations. On the sides there was a procession of the royal family and senators, with many shrouded in the sacrificial or priestly manner. 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