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Alec Reder

Mr. Burns

Latin I

4 March 2017

Ara Pacis Augutae

Introduction

It is common for rulers to construct a monument that depicts an image with which they

wish to be connected in the minds of their people. Augustus, one of Rome’s greatest emperors,

was no exception to this trend; he constructed the Ara Pacis in order to portray himself in a

certain way. The Ara Pacis represents the lasting peace that Augustus brought upon his empire in

the golden age of his reign.

History

As Mark Cartwright notes in his article, “the Ara Pacis Augustae or Altar of the Augutan

Peace in Rome was built to celebrate the return of Augustus in 13 BCE from his campaigns in

Spain and Gaul” (Cartwright). By the time the monument started construction, Augustus had

taken over a large portion of the remaining lands in Spain and Gaul that Julius Caesar had failed

to conquer. It took four years to complete. The Ara Pacis was originally built in the Campus

Martius, meaning the “field of Mars”.

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The Ara Pacis was also constructed as a lasting symbol. Charlotte Crow describes it as “a

devotional monument in thanks of peace, but also a magnificent assertion of the Emperor’s

absolute power and military might” (Crow). The monument symbolizes the Pax Romana, the era

of peace in the Roman Empire. Augustus wanted a monument to carry his legacy throughout

history, and the Ara Pacis serves this purpose.

Description

The Ara Pacis is made of Italian Luna marble, a form of white marble from Carrara, Italy.

The monument is composed of four walls, with entrances on the east and west sides, an open

ceiling, and a podium with an altar inside. The altar and the walls of the Ara Pacis have been

describes as being “heavily ornamented with relief carvings” (“Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of

Augustan Peace)”).). Along its walls are many depictions, many of which show parts of Roman

mythology and other symbols of Roman culture. Some of these depictions include scenes of

Romulus and Remus, and a scene of Aeneas.

Some of the reliefs depict more common scenes. It is noted that “processional friezes

along the north and south sides of the outer wall are thought to represent the sacrificial

procession that took place annually at the altar by order of the senate”(“Ara Pacis Augustae

(Altar of Augustan Peace)”). This procession includes Augustus himself, as well as his family.

He is placed on the structure along with figures such as Aeneas and Romulus, showing the

association he wanted his people to make between them.

Recent Construction

As stated before, the building was originally placed in the Campus Martius along with

other famous Roman works of art. However, during the reign of the dictator Benito Mussolini,
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the monument was moved near the Mausoleum of Augustus. In more recent times, the Ara Pacis

has been placed inside a new building designed by an American architect named Richard Meier.

The new building “was constructed around the Altar and is nearly eight times bigger than the one

it replaces” (Crow). The new structure is earthquake-proof, but it is not controversy-proof. Many

criticize it for integrating modern architecture with works from ancient Rome, and they dislike

the choice of the design of an American rather than an Italian.

Works Cited

“Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace).” Annenberg Learner,

http://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/175/index.html. Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.

Cartwright, Mark. “Ara Pacis Augustae.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History

Encyclopedia, 13 Oct. 2013, http://www.ancient.eu/article/618/. Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.

Crow, Charlotte. “Rome’s Ara Pacis.” History Today, 6 June 2006,

http://www.historytoday.com/charlotte-crow/romes-ara-pacis. Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.