Ara Pacis: Augustus' Monument to Rome When Caesar Augustus Was

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When Caesar Augustus was in power there was no internet or social media. In today's world every accomplishment is published if not in magazines, then on Instagram, Facebook, or

Twitter. In Augustus’s time the way to be remembered was through public monuments and buildings. Emperors after Augustus created magnificent arches, monuments, sculptures, and mosaics for themselves that depicted all of their achievements as emperor. In 13 BCE, Caesar

Augustus finished the Ara Pacis. This monument focused on much of the remarkable mythological history of Rome instead of focusing on Augustus’ own achievements and glories.

Caesar Augustus reigned for forty years from 16 January 27 BC – 19 August AD 14. The years of peace called the Pax Romana, proved to be the biggest accomplishment of his reign.

Due to this time of relative calm, Augustus was able to focus on large building projects instead of wars. Augustus used these impressive projects to inspire awe in his citizens. In addition to the

Ara Pacis, Caesar Augustus is credited with building the Pantheon, Temple of Apollo Palatinus,

Temple of Apollo Sosianus, Temple of Caesar, the Basilica of Neptune, and many more.

According to the Roman historian Suetonius, Augustus “found Rome brick and left it marble.” 1

From marble, Augustus built the Ara Pacis which literally translates to the “altar of peace”.

Augustus’ “dedication to a rather abstract notion of peace (pax) is significant in that Augustus advertises the fact that he has restored peace to the Roman state after a long period of internal and external turmoil.”2 Instead of the Ara Pacis depicting Caesar Augustus's victories and achievements explicitly, the Ara Pacis honors the time of calm and comfort in Rome and depicts the history of the Roman people.

1 "The Altar of Peace ." http://www.civilization.org.uk/augustus/ara-pacis-2. (Accessed February 7, 2017.) 2 Jeffrey Becker, "Ara Pacis ." (Accessed February 5, 2017.) https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art- civilizations/roman/early-empire/a/ara-pacis.

The Ara Pacis was finished on January 30, 9 BCE. It was an open air building that concealed an altar for blood sacrifices and burnt offerings. While the Ara Pacis was relatively small compared to building projects like the Pantheon, it was intricately designed. Every detail was created with precision. Even though time destroyed much of the alter, archeologists have inferred and recreated most of the friezes. Two sides illustrated mythological histories of the founding of Rome. There was a depiction of Aeneas with a white sow at his feet “that marks the site of the future city of Rome.”3 There was also a miniature shrine in the form of a temple that was said in Vergil’s Aeneid to contain the penates. The penates were the “household gods of

Rome which had been rescued by Aeneas from the burning of Troy and brought to Rome.” 4 On another wall was a scene of Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, alongside the she-wolf that raised them. An engraved scene of a bearded male making a sacrifice to the gods, a seated female goddess, and a broken panel showing Roma, the personification of Rome was included.

These mythological references were the background of Roman culture and history. Augustus wanted to commemorate something bigger than himself. He wanted the rich heritage of the

Roman people to shine.

Apart from the mystical history of Rome, the Ara Pacis also depicted a procession of

Roman citizens. Present in the march were lictors, who were the official bodyguards of the magistrates, priests, and members of the imperial household, including women and children, attendants to the upper classes, and regular Roman citizens.5 Women and children present on the monument gave the “altar ... an informal and humanistic side not found in the rigidly formal and

3 "The Altar of Peace ." http://www.civilization.org.uk/augustus/ara-pacis-2. (Accessed February 7, 2017.) 4 Ibid 5 Jeffrey Becker, "Ara Pacis ." (Accessed February 5, 2017.) https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art- civilizations/roman/early-empire/a/ara-pacis.

militaristic friezes found on other monuments”.6 Due to the amount of detail in the people's faces and clothing, historians were able to discern some of the members of the march. Among those known, Caesar Augustus was thought to be walking with some of his citizens, supposedly to a sacrifice. This procession is another example of how the Ara Pacis is meant for the people and not for the glory of Augustus. He is wearing clothing similar to the men around him, not his kingly attire. Augustus was not trying to put the emphasis on himself, but rather on the sacrifice to the goddess of peace.

Despite the Ara Pacis’ emphasis on Roman history, there were small details that illustrated Augustus’ importance. The Ara Pacis was located on the Via Lata in the field of Mars, which was surrounded at a distance by other monuments erected by Augustus, such as the

Horologium Augusti, a giant sundial, and the Mausoleum of Augustus. “This complex of

Augustan monuments made a clear statement about Augustus’ physical transformation of

Rome’s urban landscape”.7 Augustus create a monument that would appear to only commemorate the history of Rome; however, in reality, the Ara Pacis also paid homage to

Augustus indirectly.

Commemorating such an abstract idea of the peace and culture of Rome was much different then the monuments constructed by Augustus’ successors. For example, the arches of

Titus and Constantine were built by the individual emperors to boast about the many victories and accomplishments of themselves alone. The Arches were placed in the middle of the city so that Roman citizens would be reminded everyday of the impact that the individual emperors had

6 Matt Long, "The Altar of Augustan Peace." October 2005. (Accessed February 7, 2017.) http://web.mit.edu/course/21/21h.402/www/arapacis/main.html. 7 Jeffrey Becker, "Ara Pacis ." (Accessed February 5, 2017.) https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art- civilizations/roman/early-empire/a/ara-pacis.

upon their lives. Since peace was the recurring theme in Augustus's reign, he “preferred to

appear in his monuments as the Prince of Peace rather than as the all-conquering military hero,” like the emperors to follow him.8Augustus was recognized as a revered emperor during the Pax

Romana without turning the Ara Pacis into a monument to himself. He commemorated

something bigger than his individual reign. Augustus immortalized the Roman ideals of tradition

and heritage that embodied his citizens lives and culture.

8 H.W. Janson, The History of Art . 4th ed. Vol. 1. (New York , New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc. 1991), 233.

Works Cited

Becker , Jeffrey . "Ara Pacis ." Accessed February 5, 2017. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/roman/early- empire/a/ara-pacis.

Janson , H.W. The History of Art . 4th ed. Vol. 1. New York , New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc. 1991. (page 233)

Long, Matt. "The Altar of Augustan Peace." October 2005. Accessed February 7, 2017. http://web.mit.edu/course/21/21h.402/www/arapacis/main.html.

Rhyne, Charles S. "Ara Pacis Augustae ." Accessed February 5, 2017. https://cdm.reed.edu/ara- pacis/introduction.php.

"The Altar of Peace ." Accessed February 7, 2017. http://www.civilization.org.uk/augustus/ara- pacis-2.