Imperial image material sources

When was the ‘Octavian and Julius’ coin minted?

43 BCE

What kind of coin is the ‘Octavian and Julius’

Aureus

What is depicted on the obverse of the ‘Octavian and Julius’

obv. bare head of Octavian

What is depicted on the reverse of the ‘Octavian and Julius’

rev. Julius Caesar head laureate

What does the text read on the ‘Octavian and Julius’

Text; Gaius Caesar, consul, preist of the augurs // Gaius Caesar, dictator in perpetuity, pontifex maximus

Why does it not read divi filius on the ‘octavian and julius’ coin

JC wasnt deified

What is the significance of the ‘octavian and julius’ coin

It is an example of Octavian linking himself to Julius Caesar becasue he needed the weight of his name, but he emphasises his constitutionality compared to JC

What themes does the ‘Octavian and Julius’ coin link to

Divi Filius and Religion

When did the construction on the Mausoleum of augustus begin?

32 BCE

When was the mausoleum opened to the public

27 BCE

When was the mausoleum completed

23 BCE

Why was the mausoleum built?

It was built in response to Mark Antony’s wish to be buried in Egypt.

Augustus used the mausoleum to contrast the image of Mark Antony with himself, proving his fidelity to Rome.

Who was the mausoleum meant for?

The mausoleum would house the remains of the whole imperial family. Marcellus was the first to be interred there.

Where was the Mausoleum located?

In rome on the campus martius (burials were not allowed directly in the city), this was between the RIver Tiber and Via Flamina

What were three main features of the building

It was a large, imposing structure. It was topped with a large bronze statue of Augustus. After his death the RG was displayed on bronze pillars outside the mausoleum

What material was the mausoleum made from

Brick walls

clad in white marble

large earthen mound

featuring two pink granite obelisks

surrounded by Parkland

What are the dimensions of the mausoleum

90 M diameter 42M high

What structure was the mausoleum was it inspired by

The tomb of Alexander the Great

What theme does the mausoleum link to

Pater Patriae

When was the ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin minted

32-29 BCE

What kind of coin is the ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

Denarius

What is depicted on the obverse of the ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

Bare head of Octavian

Go into detail about the obverse of the ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

Older more mature hair

Roman nose

Silver/tin accessible for everyone not just the uber rich → wants image to be spread to the Roman people

What is depicted on the reverse of the ‘Octavian and pax’ coin

Pax standing, holding an olive branch and cornocupia, head laurete

Go into detail about the reverse of the ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

Olive tree = peace

Pax is the godess of peace

Horn of cornocupia = horn of plenty

His name is on the side of pax which means he is trying to link himself and pax together - making reference to them both being divine

saying he is the son of a god

What does the text read

Caesar // son of a god

What is the significance of ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

It was used to pay off his armies and convery Octavians promise of war through peace

What themes does the ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

Divi Filius and Culture Hero

What was in circulation at the same time as the ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

Horaces Cleopatra

Why was it interesting that Horace’s Cleopatra and the ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

horaces poem presents cleopatra as this horrible, almost inhuman monster beat who is attacking and threatening the Romans and Octavian. thus making Octavian seem like the hero of the Roman people for defending them and their way of life/identity.

Why was this coin quite so important to Octavians image

The coin paints someone as someoene who just wants peace: who was merely defedning his land from vicous attackers. The oxymoron of “fighting for peace” makes up a very important segment of Octavians public image

What does the goddess pax portray on the coin with ‘Octavian and Pax’ coin

The roman godess pax is shown with her oliver branch of peace and the cornocupia implying that a secondary benefit of war is prosperity and abundance: a time where there will be great wealth, resources, food and general plenty. This would be incredibly inviting to those who are greatly affected by the lack of resources.

When was the bust of Livia made

31 BCE

What material is the bust of Livia made from

Egyptian basanite

What is the significance about the fact the bust of Livia is made from Egyptian basanite

Basanite is political and territorial statement - stolen material.

Symbol that the Romans are moving in Livia is the replacement queen to directly contrast with Cleopatra

What style is the bust of Livia made from

Verist art style

How is livia presented in her bust

It is a highly realistic depiction of Livia. She is presented as a Roman matrona, implying traditional values/mos maiorum which reflected very well on Augustus

She is also presented as the pinnacle of beauty and appropriatness

What hairstyle is Livia wearing in her Bust

The very popular Roman nodus hairstyle

What theme does the bust of livia link to

Pater Patriae

When was the kalabsha gate built

30 BC

What was the kalabsha gate part of

A temple dedicated to a Nubian sun god names Mandulis

What material is the kalabsha gate relief made from

Limestone

What is depicted on the Kalabsha gate

Octavian is opposite the Egyptian goddess

Isis, who he presents with an offering of three field hieroglyphs

How is Octavian made identifiable on the Kalabsha gate

By the cartouches by him that read

‘The Roman and Caesar the god, son of a god

What is the ‘Egyptian’ about ‘Augustus’ presentation in this relief

He is wearing an Egyptian-style crown, a necklace fashionable for Egyptian royalty, a skirt, and no top

How is augustus depicted elsewhere in this temple

Egyptian gods crown Augustus, showing approval for his rule in Egypt

What does the kalabsha gate say about ‘Augustus image

Within Rome, Augustus would not have associated himself with a foreign deity, but his representation throughout the empire was diverse

What theme does the kalabsha gate link to

Religion

When was the ‘Octavian, restorer of the laws and rights’ coin minted

28 BCE

What kind of coin is the ‘Octavian, restorer of the laws and rights’ coin

Aureus

What is depicted on the obverse of the ‘Octavian, restorer of the laws and rights’ coins

obv. Octavian head laureate (after triple triumph was celebrated)

What is is depicted on the reverse of the ‘Octavian, restorer of the laws and rights’ coins

rev. Octavian, togate, seated in a magistrates chair holding a scroll and with a magistrates document box at his feet

What does the text read on ‘Octavian, restorer of the laws and rights’ coin

Text: Imperator caesar, son of a god, consul for the sixth time // He restored to the Roman people their laws and rights

What is the significance of the ‘Octavian, restorer of the laws and rights’ coin

An example of Octavian distancing himself from caesar’s legacy as dictator

What themes does it link to the ‘Octavian, restorer of the laws and rights’ coin

Imperator, Divi Filius and Culture Hero

When was the Prima porta made

20 BCE

Why was the prima porta commissioned

To celerbrate Augustus Parthian campaign

Who made the prima porta

The senate

What material was the original prima porta made from

Bronze

What material is the prima porta copy made from

Marble

Where was the copy of the prima porta found

Livia’s villa at Prima porta

What pose is the Prima porta in

Adlocutio - an oratorical pose to adress a crowd and contropposto

What is significant about Augustus’ cloak in the Prima porta

It is a generals cloak to emphasise his military prowess

What could Augustus have been holding in his right hand in the Prima porta

A spear - link to doryphorus

a consuls staff

a recaptured legionary standard

Why are augustus feet bare in the prima porta

Bare feet were often associated with gods, especially apollo

What style is the prima porta in and why

The style of the Greek Classical period because Augustus portrayed himself as a moral leader

What is rthe symbolism of the cupid at his heel in the prima porta

Cupid is Venus child this links to his divine heritage

What is represented on the breast plate of the prima porta

1. Centre of the breast plate is the return of the roman standards to Tiberius by a parthian. There is a dog/wolf at Tiberius feet.

2. Beneath is the godess Pax, or mother earth, with a cornucopia.

3. The sphinxes on the shoulders reference Augustus’ control over Egypt/defeat of cleopatra

4. At the top centre is Caelus

5. the left top is Sol who is driving the chariot

6. To the top right is Dawn and Luna symbolising the new darn of the Augustan Golden age

7. On the bottom left Apollo rides a griffon

8. On the bottom right diana rides a hind

What is significant of the dolphin at Augustus feet

The dolphin is a homage to the naval victory at Actium in 31 BCE

What are all the impressions that the Prima Porta give

• Commanding a military leader - unafraid of battle

• A divineley endorsed leader with his toe in the Olympian pool

• A leader who was brough peace to the Romans which spans the entire empire

• A youthful and capable leader with echoes of Greek perfection

• A modest and ethical leader who upholds Roman values

What themes does the Prima Porta link to

Imperator, Divi filius, Pater Patriae and Culture hero

When did the construction of the Forum of Augustus begin?

20 BCE

When was the forum of Augustus inaugaurated

2 BCE

Why was the forum of Augustus built

The public needed a new forum, he needed to fufil a promise

When did Octavian make the promise to build the temple of Mars Ultor

Before the battle of phillipi in 42 BCE

What structure was the Forum of augustus inspired by

The forum of Julius Caesar

Where is the forum of Augustus

The campus Martius, perpindicular to the Forum of Caesar

Why is the back wall assymetrical on the Forum of Augustus

Augustus respected the wishes of the residents of the property behind and built the forum around them

What material was the Forum of Augustus made from

Tavertine in the courtyard. Peperino tufa and Carrara marble used for the buildings. Giallo antico marble, africano marble and pavonazzetto marble used for collanades

What did the pediment of the temple of mars ultor depict

Mars fortuna venus romulus roma sat on a pile of weapons, and personifications of father tiber and the palatine

What were the three interior statues in the mars temple

Mars the avenger, venus genetrix, and deified julius caesar

What did the left exedra of the forum house display

Statues of Aneneas with the julii and Alban Kings

What did the right exedra of the forum house display

With statues of romulus and other summi viri

What was in the quadriga

Illustrious Romans, including Augustus ancestors but also Pompey Magnus, an enemy of JC

What themes do the forum and temple link to

Imperator, divi filius, pater patriae and religion

When was the ‘Augustus and the comet’ coin minted

19-18 BCE

What kind of coin is the ‘Augustus and the comet’ coin it

Denarius

What is depicted on the obverse of the ‘Augustus and the comet’ coin .

obv. Augustus wearing a civic crown

What is depicted on the reverse of the ‘Augustus and the comet’ coin

rev. Eight-rayed comet to represent the divine

What does the text on the ‘Augustus and the comet’ coin read

Caesar Augustus// the divine julius

What is the significance of the ‘Augustus and the comet’ coin

An example of Augustus transitioning his realationship with Julius Caesar the man to the divine, a generic symbol of divinity and of Rome, disconnected with his deeds

What themes does the ‘Augustus and the comet’ coin align with

Imperator and Divi Filius

When was the ‘Augustan religion’ coin minted?

13-12 BCE

What kind of coin is the ‘Augustan religion’ coin

Denarius

What is depicted on the obv the ‘Augustan religion’ coin

obv. bare head of Augustus

What is depicted on the rev of the ‘Augustan religion’ coin

Sacraficial implements above tripod and patera

What does the text on the the ‘Augustan religion’ coin read

caesar Augustus // Caius Antistius reginus triumvir

What is the significance of the the ‘Augustan religion’ coin

It was minted in Rome to celerbrate Augustus election as Pontifex Maximus, following the death of Lepidus in 13 BC. he looks too young - modelled on Apollo

What themes does it link too

Religion

When was the Ara Pacis dedicated

13 BCE, after Augustus spent 3 years on the Spanish campaign.