ARA PACIS - TELLUS PANEL Flashcards
What does the scene depict?
Tellus, the personification of Mother Earht, breastfeeding two chubby infants on her lap and an ox and sheep at her feet.
What does the scene resemble?
Human and animal prosperity and crop fertility.
What other figures are also depicted on this east marble frieze?
The personifications of air and water - alongside Tellus. The absence of the element of fire refers to the absence of war and destruction during Augustus’ reign.
What did Augustus firmly believe about Rome in regards to this panel?
He firmly believed Rome needed to return to the golden ages, a time of duty and values, of prosperity and fertility, where Roman people flourished and war and famine had no place.
What laws to Augustus enact and how did this reflect his belief on families and children?
He enacted laws to encourage marriage and having children like adultery (cheating) as a crime. Augustus wanted to have a plentiful amount of babies to introduce a new younger generation fairly quickly under his reign. He wanted many children to be born to replenish his army.
What did he want to communicate to Roman civilisation?
That he is like a family member, like a father to run this country.
How did Romans’ react to this communication?
They loved him because of his genuineness and caring nature.
How did the Ara Pacis provoke Augustus’ key themes?
It provoked the idea of fertility under the reign of Augustus, and showed how family-orientated he was and this resonated with the Roman civilisation.
