The Ara Pacis The Ara Pacis AugsutaeAugsutae““The altar of Augustan The altar of Augustan

Peace”Peace”

New Topic: Religious ArchitectureNew Topic: Religious Architecture

How we will learn about How we will learn about it:it:

Notes about the general background on Notes about the general background on powerpointpowerpoint

Then, everyone in groups of 4. Split into pairs Then, everyone in groups of 4. Split into pairs from these groups. Each pair will learn about a from these groups. Each pair will learn about a side of the Ara Pacis & take notesside of the Ara Pacis & take notes

Then, each pair will teach the other pair the Then, each pair will teach the other pair the information! information!

When you teach, you learn and remember When you teach, you learn and remember much faster much faster

Vocab listVocab list Bucrania = decorative bulls skull Bucrania = decorative bulls skull Palmette = leaf decorationPalmette = leaf decoration Precinct = stone wallsPrecinct = stone walls Paterae = Paterae = (highlight in your glossary in workbooks)(highlight in your glossary in workbooks) Meander = design that is a common motif in Roman artMeander = design that is a common motif in Roman art Door jamb = sides of a doorwayDoor jamb = sides of a doorway Lintel = Lintel = (highlight in your glossary in workbooks)(highlight in your glossary in workbooks) Capital = Capital = (highlight in your glossary in workbooks)(highlight in your glossary in workbooks) Acanthus capital = head part of a column, decorated with Acanthus capital = head part of a column, decorated with

Acanthus leavesAcanthus leaves Cornice = the top, projecting section of entablatureCornice = the top, projecting section of entablature Entablature = Entablature = (highlight in your glossary in workbooks)(highlight in your glossary in workbooks) Pilaster =Pilaster =(highlight in your glossary in workbooks)(highlight in your glossary in workbooks)

backgroundbackground When Augustus became When Augustus became Emperor, and started the Emperor, and started the Roman Empire, he ruled the Roman Empire, he ruled the Roman world, it was important Roman world, it was important that his image be seen in every that his image be seen in every public place all over the Empire. public place all over the Empire.

The Romans liked to see The Romans liked to see victories in warfare and other victories in warfare and other important events important events commemorated in stone. commemorated in stone.

The purpose of relief sculpture The purpose of relief sculpture was to inform: it told a story to was to inform: it told a story to the illiterate and for the literate, the illiterate and for the literate, used images to emphasise the used images to emphasise the imperial ideologyimperial ideology

Rome’s rulers used relief sculpture as a form of political propaganda, the message was readable at a glance

factsfacts LocationLocation:: Originally from the Field of Mars ( Originally from the Field of Mars (Campus Campus

Martius) Martius) in the north of Romein the north of Rome Architectural typeArchitectural type:: Relief Sculpture Relief Sculpture PurposePurpose:: This piece was commissioned in honour of This piece was commissioned in honour of

Augustus. It was awarded to him by the Roman Senate after Augustus. It was awarded to him by the Roman Senate after he successfully pacifiied Gaul and Spain, he had been there he successfully pacifiied Gaul and Spain, he had been there since 16BC. (From 29BC onwards, Augustus refused to since 16BC. (From 29BC onwards, Augustus refused to accept triumphal honours that were normally celebrated by a accept triumphal honours that were normally celebrated by a victorious general, so they had to find different was to victorious general, so they had to find different was to celebrate his return). It is also political propaganda. The altar celebrate his return). It is also political propaganda. The altar was also designed for annual sacrifices to the goddess peace was also designed for annual sacrifices to the goddess peace and Roma by magistrates, priests and vestal virgins.and Roma by magistrates, priests and vestal virgins.

Date of construction: 13-9 BC (but was restored by Mussolini in 1930 and relocated)

Dimensions: The Ara Pacis is a rectangular stone wall surrounding a stone altar. The wall is 10.5m in length, 11.6m in width and 7m in height

Materials used: Tufa, Travertine, Carrara marble (all Italian building materials)

Greek Influences: Greek Parthenon (440-430 BC) – Augustus wanted to link

himself and his rule with the successes and achievements of 5th cent Athens, so he copied the style of the processional frieze.

The altar and screen wall are modelled on the Greek altar of Mercy in Athens

Greek influence in style of decoration, structure, acanthus leaf scroll work

factsfacts

Imperial Imperial PropagandaPropaganda The purpose of the Ara Pacis is to show Augustus’ great The purpose of the Ara Pacis is to show Augustus’ great

achievements. this was started with the defeat of Mark achievements. this was started with the defeat of Mark Anthony and the Egyptian forces at the battle Actium in Anthony and the Egyptian forces at the battle Actium in 31BC which ended the civil war. 31BC which ended the civil war.

Augustus has given people peace, prosperity, fertility, piety Augustus has given people peace, prosperity, fertility, piety and those are all shown on the Ara Pacis. and those are all shown on the Ara Pacis.

The idea is proclaimed by: The idea is proclaimed by: Showing Augustus’ victory over Western provincesShowing Augustus’ victory over Western provinces Its location in the Field of Mars, a military exercise areaIts location in the Field of Mars, a military exercise area The symbols and images used on each relief panelThe symbols and images used on each relief panel The altar sits close to a sundial that symbolises defeated The altar sits close to a sundial that symbolises defeated

and pacified Egypt. The sundial worked through the power and pacified Egypt. The sundial worked through the power of Apollo (the sun god), the deity that Augustus favoured. of Apollo (the sun god), the deity that Augustus favoured. The shadow aligned once a year with the door to the Ara The shadow aligned once a year with the door to the Ara Pacis, on Augustus’ birthdayPacis, on Augustus’ birthday

The altar itself is inside The altar itself is inside the precinct on a raised the precinct on a raised dais, facing east. The dais, facing east. The outer and interior wall is outer and interior wall is is decorated with is decorated with friezes of relief friezes of relief sculpture. sculpture.

The altar on the inside: The altar on the inside: Has a small frieze, Has a small frieze, 39cm high of a 39cm high of a sacrificial procession. sacrificial procession. Possibly shows the Possibly shows the altar’s dedication altar’s dedication ceremony in 9 BC. ceremony in 9 BC. There are vestal There are vestal virgins, animals and virgins, animals and attendants.attendants.

Upper part of the wall has symbols of sacrifice, these are:

•elabourate garlands

•patarae (libation bowls)

•bucrania (bulls skulls)

•Palmette decoration creates a border.

This interior decoration means the altar is permanently ready for sacrifice

The lower half of the Interior precinct wall represents the carved Wooden palisade thatwas set up as a makeshift enclosurewhen the site was Inaugurated in 13BC

interior wall

Exterior wallExterior wallThe exterior wall is decorated with two Layers also. Here the two layers are separated, By a thicker band, a meander pattern, carved In high relief.

The bottom layer around the whole precinct is an intricate floral pattern.It has hundreds of swirling acanthus plants that turn into realistic flowers, each petal has intricate detail.

There are birds, insects, snakes and lizards in amongst the plants, making the panel seem alive with movement. Swans, the symbol of Apollo are also there. Apollo was Augustus’ patron diety & helped him win the battle in Actium in 31BC

Each corner of the precinct has a Corinthian Pilaster which is decorated with an elaboratefoliate scroll and acanthus capital.

There are 2 doors in the precinct walls (on the east and west sides) This is the There are 2 doors in the precinct walls (on the east and west sides) This is the west, because it is the main entrance for sacrifice and there are 9 shallow west, because it is the main entrance for sacrifice and there are 9 shallow steps.steps.

Each door is surrounded Each door is surrounded by a stepped by a stepped door jambdoor jamb and and lintel.lintel.

What is on the What is on the walls???walls???

The most significant feature of the The most significant feature of the exterior decoration are the reliefs on the exterior decoration are the reliefs on the top layer of the precinct wall. top layer of the precinct wall.

They are in precise pattern, They are in precise pattern, mythological, and allegorial features on mythological, and allegorial features on the east/west and historical procession the east/west and historical procession on the north/south.on the north/south.

North

Procession of senators and priests

West: Mythological

Romulus & Remus

West: Mythological

Aeneas

South:

Procession of imperial family

East: Allegorical

Tellus

East: Allegorical

Roma

Altar

South friezeSouth friezeProcession of imperial familyProcession of imperial family

North frieze, procession of senators, North frieze, procession of senators, vestal virgins, and priestsvestal virgins, and priests

Group workGroup work

Pair one: Pair one: East Allegorical side: Tellus relief & RomaEast Allegorical side: Tellus relief & Roma Pair two: Pair two: West Mythological side: Romulus and Remus & West Mythological side: Romulus and Remus &

AeneasAeneas

Teacher will coverTeacher will coverNorth side: Historical procession of priestsNorth side: Historical procession of priestsSouth side: Historical procession of Augustus’ South side: Historical procession of Augustus’

familyfamily