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Rome- Monumental Art. Arch of Constantine, dedicated 315 AD. Boar’s Head Medallions.
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And below is perhaps the most controversial panel on the arch of Constantine. It appears to depict the Sun God, the very deity which was Constantine's father (Constantius Chlorus) worshipped and which is ascribed to Constantine prior to his conversion to Christianity.However, this arch celebrates the triumph over Maxentius, a victory Constantine later credited to the 'God of the
Livia as priestess, Vatican Museum Palazzo Massimo,Via Labbicana Augustus
Palestrina, Altar to Augustus After 14 A.D.
The Ara Pacis13 BCE, marble 35' x 38' x 23' h The Ara Pacis (or the Altar of Augustan Peace) is a monument to Augustus'pacification of the Empire and the peace that followed- known as the Pax Augusta - Peace of Augustus.The altar itself is within the almost square enclosure.
The Ara Pacis was a sacrificial altar, constructed under the aegis of Augustus. It was dedicated in 9 B.C. to commemorate the safe return of Augustus from Gaul and Spain. It was erected in the Campus Martius.
Procession:Imperial Family (click on the image for a detailed view)The upper frieze of figures in a procession is 5' high. The procession is made up of known historical people who are attending what might represent the initiation of the construction of the altar in 13 BCE. Many of the members of the imperial family may be identified, including Livia Augustus' niece, and Marcus Agrippa. For a full identification click hereAugustus had dynastic ambitions and that is one reason why children may be included in this procession. He wanted to promote a higher birthrate among the upper classes by offering tax cuts, and other incentives to encourage fecundity in the upper classes.
The Ara Pacis Augustae: the First Family In the main frieze, Augustus played the role of the now damaged figure of rex sacrorum the king/priest with his head veiled who performed the ancient rites of blood sacrifice and holocaust, or burning of the sacrifice. He is shown accompanied by the flamen diales, identified by their spiked caps and the lictors who with their ceremonial axes will deal the death blows to the sacrifical animals. Marcus Agrippa is probably the older man near him also veiled as an auger or pontifex, and he holds the hand of a young boy who was probably his son Lucius (and Augustus' grandson). Those behind these two have been identified as (left to right): Augustus' daughter Julia; Iullus Antonius (son of Mark Antony and Fulvia); Antonia Minor (Augustus' niece), Octavia minor (another niece), Drusus maior (Octavia's husband); their 2 year-old son Germanicus; Antonia maior (his niece); Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus (Antonia's husband); their children; Octavia minor (Augustus' sister); and bringing up the rear, Livia, the emperor's wife.
Compare this procession of the imperial family with those from the Panathenaic ProcessionThe procession on the Ara Pacis is based upon the Panathenaic Procession from the Parthenon frieze. Marcus Agrippa had spent time in Athens and no doubt would have been familiar with the Parthenon frieze. Another illustration of the Roman love of Greek art and architecture. - The Ara Pacis frieze is much more active - overlapping - irregular spacing - Including kids! who are acting like kids-- the figures n the Panathenaic Procession are, for the most part, segregated by gender Greek- mythical, endless time Roman- specific historical event
