Myth and symbols of power : The Ara Pacis Flashcards
What was the Ara Pacis
It was a temple and open air altar for the sacrifice of sacred animals were only priests and vestal virgins participated
It stood for altar of peace
How is the altar decorated
It is elaborately carved with scenes relating to sacrifices
What was the altar surrounded by
An enclosure wall which was sculpted in and out
Who commissioned the Ara Pacis
The Roman senate who wanted to honour the return of Augustus to Rome after three years in Western Europe
What and the Ara Pacis be compared to
Vigil’s Aeneid
What do the north and south walls of the Ara Pacis depict
The procession towards the Ara Pacis - it is stylistically similar to the Panathenaic procession frieze on the Parthenon
What does the dedication to peace show
Shows Augustus advertising the fact that he has restored peace after a long time of turmoil
Where was the Ara Pacis located
In the field of Mars
What did the East wall panel 1 show 
Badly preserved of Roma the personification of Rome, sitting on top of a pile of confiscated weapons, enemy is forced to accept peace
What does the east wall panel 2 show
The Goddess Pax sits amid a scene of fertility with twins on her lap presumably Romulus and Remus
What does the west wall panel 1 show
Fragments of Romulus and Remus being discovered by the Shepherd while Mars looks on.
What does the west wall panel 2 show
A scene of a pig sacrifice symbolising Aeneas’ arrival in Italy
What does the north frieze show
Contains 46 partially surviving figures mostly with veiled heads, lictors, priests with incense, 21 members of the collagium, members of the imperial family and participants in the Troy games
What does the South Freize contain
Figures of the imperial family
How do the friezes show that Rome was the centre of the world
There can be seen several Non-Roman children which shows that other nations sent their children to Rome to learn the Roman ways
