Picturing the PastAra 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. (De Agostini Picture Library/Gianni Dagli Orti/The Bridgeman Art Library)ANALYZING THE IMAGE What do the elements depicted here most likely symbolize?CONNECTIONS The Ara Pacis was a work of public art designed to commemorate the deeds of Augustus. Why might the Senate have commissioned such a work? Can you think of contemporary parallels?