AUGUSTUS OF PRIMAPORTA

Augustus of Primaporta

Augustus of Primaporta, Roman Imperial Art

Introduction

Augustus Prima Porta is the name given to a statue in white marble of the Emperor Augustus , 2.04 m, discovered on 20 April 1865 in the Villa ad Gallinas of Livia , located at Prima Porta , in the Municipio XX (Cassia Flaminia ) of Rome . It is currently exhibited in Rome , the Vatican Museum . It is believed to be a copy made ??in 14 AD, of an original bronze statue made in 20 BC.

Augustus is the adopted son of Julius Caesar . He became emperor in 27 BC. AD This statue represents him Imperator , battleship as a hero, an Eros on its right side sitting on a dolphin . On his cuirass is represented the historical stage of the return of a sign lost by Crassus in 54 BC. J.-C , at the Battle of Carrhae . This sign will then be placed in the temple of Mars the Avenger on the Forum of Augustus.

Thesis Statement

Through various formal and symbolic elements, the Augustus of Primaporta was used as an effective work of propaganda for the emperor and his people.

Discussion

The statue, Vatican Museum, was found April 20, 1863 in the area of First Gate along the Via Flaminia, in the villa belonging to Livia Drusilla, the third wife of Emperor Augustus. The discoverer, Count Francesco Senni, commissioned the restoration of the statue, which also was preserved in good condition, Tenerani to Peter, and then made a gift to Pope Pius IX.

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Augustus wearing the armor richly adorned, which covers a short military tunic; the sides are surrounded by paludamentum, coat usually worn by generals when commanded the army. It falls on the left arm, whose hand he holds a spear. The emperor was the head and feet bare, a boy, astride a dolphin, leaning on his right leg: it is Eros, the son of Venus, for which the dolphin is a tribute to the goddess born from the sea.

At the center of the shell is represented a diplomatic event, dating from 20 BC, to whom Augustus gave great prominence as part of its propaganda. This is the restitution of stolen military by the Parthians in 53 BC, during the disastrous defeat by the Romans at Carrhae. The presence of the personification of Heaven, which appears at the top center, the chariot of the Sun and Dawn with a torch, of Dew winged shoulders, put the event into a cosmic landscape. Below you recognize the Earth with the crown of spikes, the god Apollo and a griffin's sister Artemis on a deer.

The marble statue of Augustus of Prima Porta is a winning posture in ceremonial uniform of commander. It glorifies the ruler of the inhabited earth peace. Augustus is not represented with a helmet, shoulder jacket and boots, military commander, but bareheaded, barefoot and with a loose armour - a mark of gods and heroes. In a divine ruler of the sphere is moved by ...