South proseccion, detail of Augustus’ face
Marble.13—9 BCE. Rome, Museum of the Altar of Augustan Peace (Ara Pacis Augustae)
South proseccion, detail of Augustus’ face.
Marble.
13—9 BCE.
13—9 BCE.
Rome, Museum of the Altar of Augustan Peace (Ara Pacis Augustae)
(Roma, Museo dell’Ara Pacis).
Description:
On the south side, one of the few characters whose identity is undisputed is Augustus (south 15); he is portrayed as a priest, with his head veiled and wearing a laurel wreath. Around Augustus the procession seems to come to a halt, all the personages turn their head and their eyes on him: the whole scene seems to find its climax in the figure of the princeps. Unfortunately the loss of the left hand and of almost the whole right side of the figure, with the exception of an important fragment of the forearm, does not allow us to understand clearly what action Augustus is undertaking in such crucial area of the relief, the visual focus of the procession.
Credits:
© 2007. Photo, text: O. Rossini. Ara Pacis. Rome, Electa, 2007, p. 48, 49, 54.
Keywords: γλυπτική sculptura sculpture sculptural scultura skulptur ρωμαϊκό roman romana romano romani römisch römische römisches römischen römischer romain romaine romains romaines ανακούφιση relief rilievo ara pacis augustae altar of augustan peace altare della pace augustea des friedens augustus autel de la paix auguste marble south southern frieze the portrait emperor octavian august octavianus ottaviano augusto julio-claudian dynasty dinastia giulio-claudia julii-claudii veiled laurel wreath corona di alloro
