Notable Sites from Rome’s Golden Age
Today I visited the famous Ara Pacis Augustae, the Altar of Augustan Peace, that was built to celebrate Augustus’s victorious return from Spain and Gaul to Rome in 12 B.C. The altar was constructed in 13 B.C.E and dedicated to Augustus on 9 B.C.E. In reading Augustus’ autobiographical memoir, he mentions that the senate had ordered magistrates, priests and the vestals to offer annual sacrifices to the gods at the altar.
The Ara Pacis is located on the eastern edge of the Campus Martius along the Via Lata and is positioned near the important monuments of Horoglium Augusti and the Mausoleum of Augustus. A flight of stairs (9 steps) takes you to the two doorway of the main entrance (see image 5). This opens to the sacred altar which is surrounded by four-cornered walls. In the inside, there are beautiful decorative motifs all around. On the vertical slats, 12 full and unique garlands of fruit are hung representing the recurrent natural cycle of decay and regeneration. On the bucrania (ox skulls), beautiful swags tied with ribbon can be seen along with sacrificial plates to denote the sacrificial ritual.
On the outside of the structure, many processional scenes can be seen on the north and south flanks of the altar. This is filled with solemn figures which are facing west, the direction of the altar, to represent their participation in the ritual (see image 6). These figures are made up of the magistrates’ bodyguards, priests, Imperial household members and attendants. Additionally, there is a continuous tableau of sculptured marble that is accompanied with four mythological panels which depict specific events (i.e., sacrifice being made by a bearded male, seated goddess, Roma, mythic founders).
Overall, the Ara Pacis is a significant structure that represents the routine offering of animals and slaughtering ritual that is common in Roman religion. Augustus was also able to use this altar for effective political messaging by celebrating peace amid the Pax Romana.
Image 5: The front view of the Ara Pacis (on next page)
https://smarthistory.org/ara-pacis/
Image 6: Processional scene on the south side of the altar (on next page)
https://smarthistory.org/ara-pacis/
* Sources:
https://doi.org/10.2307/3045761
https://smarthistory.org/ara-pacis/
mn2904
4 chapters
6 Dec 2020
The Altar of Augustan Peace (Ara Pacis Augustae)
December 15, 2020
Today I visited the famous Ara Pacis Augustae, the Altar of Augustan Peace, that was built to celebrate Augustus’s victorious return from Spain and Gaul to Rome in 12 B.C. The altar was constructed in 13 B.C.E and dedicated to Augustus on 9 B.C.E. In reading Augustus’ autobiographical memoir, he mentions that the senate had ordered magistrates, priests and the vestals to offer annual sacrifices to the gods at the altar.
The Ara Pacis is located on the eastern edge of the Campus Martius along the Via Lata and is positioned near the important monuments of Horoglium Augusti and the Mausoleum of Augustus. A flight of stairs (9 steps) takes you to the two doorway of the main entrance (see image 5). This opens to the sacred altar which is surrounded by four-cornered walls. In the inside, there are beautiful decorative motifs all around. On the vertical slats, 12 full and unique garlands of fruit are hung representing the recurrent natural cycle of decay and regeneration. On the bucrania (ox skulls), beautiful swags tied with ribbon can be seen along with sacrificial plates to denote the sacrificial ritual.
On the outside of the structure, many processional scenes can be seen on the north and south flanks of the altar. This is filled with solemn figures which are facing west, the direction of the altar, to represent their participation in the ritual (see image 6). These figures are made up of the magistrates’ bodyguards, priests, Imperial household members and attendants. Additionally, there is a continuous tableau of sculptured marble that is accompanied with four mythological panels which depict specific events (i.e., sacrifice being made by a bearded male, seated goddess, Roma, mythic founders).
Overall, the Ara Pacis is a significant structure that represents the routine offering of animals and slaughtering ritual that is common in Roman religion. Augustus was also able to use this altar for effective political messaging by celebrating peace amid the Pax Romana.
Image 5: The front view of the Ara Pacis (on next page)
https://smarthistory.org/ara-pacis/
Image 6: Processional scene on the south side of the altar (on next page)
https://smarthistory.org/ara-pacis/
* Sources:
https://doi.org/10.2307/3045761
https://smarthistory.org/ara-pacis/
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