Augustus Of Primaporta Analysis

Gaius Octavius Thurinus is a adopted son of Julius Caesar, He is the first true emperor of the Roman Empire, he was believed to be one of the most important emperor of Roma. In 43 EBC, Octavian gathered his army to kill the senate who planned the assassinate targeting Julius Caesar, his adoptive father. Then, he defeat Mark Antony and Cleopatra who was his allies but later betrayed him. Thus , he ended the war continued for decades and brought the great peace to Rome, In 29 EBC Octavian declared the pax romana, also know as the Roman peace. In 27 BCE, he was bestowed the title of Augustus by the Roman senate which was actually reestablished by Augustus himself. In order to remind the Romans the emperor’s power, Augustus ordered sculptor to sculpt the idealized form of him and send those sculptures to every provinces (Module 5 Session 6). The Augustus of Prima Porta is a great example of them.

There has been evidence to prove the link between the temple of Vespian and the Fortuna Augustus were a tool of displaying political loyalty to the emperor this has been decided after an examination of artefacts such as a marble alter which stands in the Vespian temple depicts a scene of a bull being sacrificed. On the back of the alter shows a wreath of oak leaves and two Laurel trees, which is a symbol of the senates award (which is given to a man who has saved another’s life) which suggests it dates back so the ruling or Augustus, as well as another three statues.

It seems as though they wanted their ruler to be rather serious and composed. The Romans involved more movement and freedom in their ruler. The Romans also seemed to use Augustus of Primaporta to show militaristic power as well as propagandistic purposes, which isn’t really something that you can see in Egyptian sculpture. This is clearly seen in the breastplate of Augustus of Primaporta. Augustus is clearly pushing his ideology on the people, which is something they enjoy seeing. One major aspect that I notice in many Egyptian statues is the power of women. Not to say that the women were the rulers, but rather than the rulers would possibly lean on them for advise and comfort. This is not something I see in Roman

Augustus was the first emperor, and founder, of the Roman Empire. He was a generous leader, and had a sense of caution in mind with every decision. His document, Res Gestae Divi Augusti, notes all of his accomplishments during his reign. He established an especially impressive army during his time. In the first paragraph, he introduces the beginning of his kingship, “In my nineteenth year… I raised an army with which I set free the state, which was oppressed by the domination of a faction” (Res Gestae Divi Augusti, 1). In the second to fourteenth paragraphs he touches on the politics of his career and the events that transpired. In paragraphs fifteen through twenty-four, he notes his donations of money, land, public works, ect. Paragraphs twenty-five through thirty-three take his military and alliances into account. In the final two paragraphs, thirty-four and thirty-five, he discusses Roman people’s assessment of his reign. Augustus was a very powerful leader with his well planned strategies, and made the people of Rome very proud.

14 As Stamper argues, this is a significant aspect of portraying authority when one an emperor uses precedent of Rome’s founding 15 and this is shown by Augustus in commemorating the temple to Julius Caesar as a sign of celebrating his own triumph. The Temple of Julius Caesar sat on an elevated podium with rostra in front of the colonnade where prows of the ships captured from the Battle at Actium were hung.16 Similarly, the public rostra erected at the opposite site of the Forum also consist of captures obtained from the Battle of Actium and these rostra that faced each other act as a reminder of the glories of the old Republic and the achievements of the restored Rome under its new leader, Augustus.17 To reflect more of the idea of power, Augustus uses different architectural elements to deliver them. Similar to the nearby Temple of Castor and Pollux erected during the Republic, the Temple of Julius Caesar had a pycnostyle composition that consisted of six closely arranged columns with

When Augustus, defeated Antony, he became the first Ruler of the Roman Empire and he established an Imperial cult in Alexandria .These Imperial cults were established by the Roman Senate and included the worship of the Emperor and the Roman goddess Roma. This is representative of Egypt’s position in the Empire. The Senate had no control here, so the goddess that represented the Senate, Roma, was also

The image of the statue, Augustus of Prima Porta, portrays Augustus as a strong military leader. His elaborate military uniform, including a very ornate breastplate, conveys both power and strength. His manly stance shows a decisive self-confidence. The painting titled Octavius Caesar (Later the Emperor Augustus), and Cleopatra portrays Augustus in a position of dominance, standing over Cleopatra. He wears a laurel wreath on his head, signifying victory. Cleopatra, a strong ruler in her own right, is kneeling submissively.

The Torso of an Emperor in the Guise of Jupiter was made during the first century with marble. Standing at 56 ½ x 29 ½ x 15 ½ inches. The statue depicts a torso of an emperor’s body with the torso completely exposed and a sheet that could be assumed as a toga (typical clothing during the time period) covering the lower part of the body. People worshipped the gods and many stories, still told today marvel of the complete and utter perfection that the gods were graced with. The artist shows detail directly in the toga to make precise cuts from the marble to show value and create a life like atmosphere. With the chest and torso area you can clearly see that the man was fit with no fat in sight, only muscle. The form of the work uses diagonal lines throughout the toga to imply movement upward towards the chest. The lines point upward causing your eyes to look toward the emperor’s torso. Since the gods were known mainly for

To reassure Roman Citizens that prosperity was evident Augustus set about reconstructing the city of Rome. Coins from the period (http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=443) illustrate the ‘health of the republic’ which was an essential part in reinforcing the feelings of stability that the Augustus wanted his people to encompass. The use of propaganda was also in an attempt to bolster his power. The reconstruction of the city involved creating essential services such as roads and aqueducts and also glorified Augustus and set in stone his achievements.

Located in the Vatican Museums of Rome is Augustus of Prima Porta. This statue is approximately 2 meters tall, made of marble, and depicts Augustus Caesar of Ancient Rome. The statue is estimated to have been made in the first century AD, and is possibly a replica of an original bronze version of the statue. The artwork was lost for centuries, and the original artist is unknown and may never be determined. It is theorized that the artwork was commissioned by Roman emperor Tiberius (42 BCE-37 AD) to give to his mother as a gift. The statue is currently located in the New Wing of the Vatican Museum in Rome. This branch of the museum was created in the early 20th century following the return of artwork taken by Napoleon. Depending on the time of its creation, ranging from 27 BCE to 37 AD the political system in Rome was an empire ruled by Augustus Caesar or Tiberius Caesar. A work of this significance would not have been created for an ordinary citizen. Historically, sculptures in ancient Rome built upon previous Classical Greek sculptures. Roman sculpting however, strived to make their sculptures more realistic and lifelike. Augustus of Prima Porta embodies this desire for realism in the sculpture. The social climate at the time was strict and traditional. Ancestry, property, and wealth were important aspects in the social structure. The technology at the time of the art’s creation had advanced in the Roman empire from previous western civilizations. Portraits in specific

This statue does not just simply portray Augustus as an orator and general; it also communicates a great deal about the emperor Augustus’ power and ideology. This portrait of Augustus illustrates himself as a boundless military victory and a devoted supporter and promoter of Roman religion. The statue also implemented the “Pax Romana:” a two-hundred-year period of peace that Augustus initiated. Even though these works are not in the same medium or the same style, or even the same art. form; they both share similarities in intent, symbolism, and ideology.

The Augustus of Primaporta is a statue that portrays Emperor Augustus in having immense power and purpose. When I strike the pose I truly feel the way Augustus must have felt. I am sticking my beautiful chest plate out and my left leg is swinging forward as if I’m moving into battle. I am not satisfied with what land I have now, no, I want more. I am not simply attacking, I am conquering. I am leading my people into battle and no one can stop me or tell me otherwise. The position feels like I am speaking to motivate my men before going into battle. Every word out of my mouth would receive nothing but the utmost attention from my men as they stare at me with all my glory. With my hand raised my staff in my arm, I would charge and attack wherever

In the lower scene, there are two civilian looking people, a woman carrying two spears, and a man with a petasus, a hat with broad brim. These two are dragging captives by their hair, and it is suggested that this is Diana and Mercury helping the Romans in their conquest. The above scene depicts Augustus, as a Jupiter like figure, surrounded by Roma, Hera, Time, and other godlike figures. These scenes depict a roman mindset that the Gods were on their side, that they had divine favor and rule over others. Another example of this manifest destiny comes from the Aeneid. Virgil is commissioned by Augustus to write this piece of literature, which is a huge propaganda story which regards Aeneas’s journey from Troy to founding what will

In 27 BC Augustus began his political career with a “new policy which embodied a national and Roman spirit” (Galinksy, 1996, 225) and “represented new heights in creativity and sophistication” (Galinksy, 1996, 225). Augustus created a new political propaganda campaign that used art and architecture to promote and enhance his regime. The most fundamental message can be regarded as to establish the legitimacy of his rule and to portray him as the natural successor of Rome, as this is consistently presented throughout the visual programme. Yet factors such as the restoration of the Republic, reviving the old religion, nationalism and militaristic triumph can also be seen to be communicated prominently through art and architecture.

The Portrait of Augustus is a very good example of propaganda from a ruling emperor. It is from Primaporta, Italy, the year 20 BCE. The original was made from bronze but copied in marble because bronze statues were melted down for weapons. The statue stands at 6 foot 8 inches. The figure is interpreted as Augustus by the two curls in his bangs that make up the S and C of the Augustinian household. He is wearing a bronze chest plate with stories of him interacting with gods. Augustus has the gods on his side, he is an international military victor, and he is the bringer of the Pax Romana, a peace that encompasses all the lands of the Roman Empire. In the central zone of the armor are two figures, a Roman and a Parthian. On the left, the enemy Parthian returns military standards. This is a direct reference to an international diplomatic victory of Augustus in 20 BCE when these standards were finally returned to Rome. The plate would have been made of bronze which is heavier so it would have been just for decorative uses. Augustus is said to have been a deity, being related to a god or goddess. Down by his proper right foot is a cupid riding a dolphin. Venus, who is represented by a dolphin, is the mother of both Cupids. The purpose of depicting both Cupid and Venus is to highlight Augustus’ godly lineage.  He is outreached in the typical speech pose that many Romans used in their sculptures to show that they are in a position of power and authority.