Evaluating the Evidence 6.3: Ara Pacis

164

Ara Pacis

In the middle years of Augustus’s reign, the Roman Senate ordered a huge altar, the Ara Pacis, built to honor him and the peace he had brought to the empire. This was decorated with life-size reliefs of Augustus and members of his family, prominent Romans, and other people and deities. One side, shown here, depicts a goddess figure, most likely the goddess Peace herself, with twin babies on her lap, flanked by nymphs representing land and sea, and surrounded by plants and animals.

image
(DEA/Gianni Dagli Orti/De Agostini/Getty Images)

EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE

  1. What do the elements depicted here most likely symbolize?
  2. The Ara Pacis and the Res Gestae (see “Evaluating the Evidence 6.1”) were both works of public art designed to commemorate the deeds of Augustus. Why might the Senate and Augustus have commissioned such works? Can you think of contemporary parallels?