view of the Ara Pacis housed in Richard Meier's controversial glass building in Rome (2006/7)
The Ara Pacis Augustae "Altar of Augustan Peace" is an altar to Peace, envisioned as a Roman goddess. It was commissioned by the Roman emperor Augustus, consecrated on 30 January by the Senate to celebrate the peace established in the Empire after Augustus's victories in Gaul and Spain. It had earlier been dedicated on 4 July 13 BC. The altar was meant to be a vision of the Roman civil religion. It sought to portray the peace and prosperity enjoyed as a result of the Pax Romana brought about by the military supremacy of the Roman Altar was originally located on the Campus Martius. Benito Mussolini built a protective building for the Altar by the Mausoleum of Augustus (moving the Altar in the process) as part of his attempt to create an ancient Roman "theme park" as an example of Fascist Italy. There is now a new cover building on the same site as Mussolini's. Designed by modern American architect Richard Meier, the new building was opened in 2006 and has proved somewhat controversial, the New York Times describing the result as "a flop", and the sitting mayor Walter Veltroni's opponent stated that (if elected) he would tear the structure down The Ara Pacis was elaborately and finely sculpted entirely in gleaming white marble, depicting scenes of traditional Roman piety, in which the Emperor and his family were portrayed in the act of offering sacrifices to the gods. Various figures bring forth cattle to be sacrificed. Some have their togas drawn over their heads, like a hood; this signifies that they are acting in their official capacity as priests. Others wear laurel crowns, traditional symbols of victory. Men, women, and children all approach the gods. The Altar is considered a masterpiece of Roman sculpture; the figures in the procession are not idealised types, as are typically found in Greek sculpture, but rather recognizable portraits of individuals.
Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Rome,Italy, Europe, EU
Photo credit: © NORMA JOSEPH / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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