Prima Porta Flashcards
When was the Prima Porta made
20 BCE
what is the Prima Porta made of
marble
where is the Prima Porta
The Prima Porta is named after the area it was found in, its specific location though is the Villa of Livia.
However it was reproduced all over the empire and even this is thought to be a copy
what does the Head of the Prima Porta symbolise/ imply
- Augustus is shown with a stoic expression that shows he is calm and ruled by logic not emotion - this is a very Roman trait
- the face mixes greek idealism with Roman realism. In 20 BCE Augustus would have been ~40years old, this is not shown in the statues face, instead he is given perpetual youth.
↳ Which implies stability and hints to his divine ancestory as well as making him seem more heroic as he is sculpted in the style of the great heroes.
↳This combination also hints to Augustus bringing back the golden age (Hesiod was a greek writer)
Paul Zanka said “Augustus mixed the Grrek and Roman styles of statuary”
what does the pose of the Prima Porta symbolise/ imply
Augustus holds up his right hand in the adlocutio pose, this pose is used in 2 ways
1. to address troops - shows him to be a strong military leader
2. to address the senate - strong civic leader, and a reminder that he is princeps senatus (a title given by the senate)
what are the important aspects of the Prima Porta
(break the statue down)
- head and face
- pose
- left hand
- armour (should be broken down further)
- legs
what does the left hand of the Prima Porta statue symbolise/ imply
While the hand is empty it is clear that Augustus was once depicted as holding something. There are 2 main theories as to what this was.
1. a spear - this would like to fighting and warfare showing him as a strong military leader, as well as linking back to the inspiration of the statue - the Doryphorus (greek statue of the ‘ideal man’)
2. a magistrates staff - this would link to him being a civic leader and decision maker.
what do the legs of the Prima Porta symbolise/ imply
- Augustus’ legs are depicted bare and he has no footwear on. This is a hint at nudity which is how gods and goddesses were depicted so he is implying that he is part divine by his connection to Venus through Aeneas.
- Beside his right foot is a depiction of Cupid atop a (squished) dolphin, this is further emphasis to Augustus’ connection to the divine as both these are associated with Venus.
These points are to highlight Augustus’ divine right to rule and therefore his legitimacy.
describe the armour on the Prima Porta
the armour shows that he is a military leader as it is a general’s breastplate and not a footsoldier’s uniform.
On the breast plate there is:
- sphynxes
- sky associated dieties (top of breastplate)
- the return of the standards (central image)
- allies and defeated enemies (either side of central image)
- additional deities (bottom of breastplate)
what do the sphynxes on the breastplate of the Prima Porta symbolise
serves as a reminder of the victory over the east - Egypt and Parthia
What is the symbolism on the top of the breastplate on the Prima Porta (not the sphynxes)
describe what it is as well
The top of the breastplate has sol (diety of the sun in a chariot) on the left, chasing Luna (goddess of the moon) infront of the sky (personified). Behind Luna is Dawn.
This adds importance to the scene below (central scene)
what is the symbolism on the centre of the breastplate on the Prima Porta
exclude the sides
In the centre are two figures, they depict Parthia retuning the standards to Rome.
The Roman man could be Augustus but he is wearing a phrygian cap so is more likely be Romulus or Aeneas.
(gain additional insight )
what is a phrygian cap
The Phrygian cap was originally a symbol of the foreigner or foreign captive. The Roman pileus, generally without the peak, came to represent the freed slave
what is the symbolism on the sides of the breastplate on the Prima Porta
- There are 2 figures, on on either side of the central scene. These are thought to be women possibly widows, holding scabbards.
- On the left the woman holds an empty scabbard, potentially sybolisimg the defeated and fully subservient peoples.
- On the right the woman holds a scabbard with a sword in it perhaps symbolising the defeated, now allies of Rome.
- Together these emphasise Rome’s power - whoever they go up against are defeated.
what is the symbolism on the bottom of the breastplate on the Prima Porta
3 dieties are depicted on the bottom of the breastplate
On the right is Augustus’ patron god - Apollo - who is show to be more visible and therefore more important than Diana who is only partially visible on the left and is perhaps only there because she is Apollo’s twin.
In the centre is a godess holding a cornucopia symbolising plenty and prosperity. Possibly as a reference to Augustus saving Rome from Sextus Pompey’s blockade of Rome. This goddess is primarily thought to be either Pax or Terra.
The secondary role of these dieties prescence is to add importance to the central scene to mirror the role of the dieties above.
