White Marble Italian Sculpture Classical Roman of Augustus Pontifex Maximus

View Similar Items

A Roman Classical Nude Male Marble Sculpture

17th Century Italian Carrara Marble Bust of Classical Roman

Bronze figure of Augustus after Roman period original

Italian Roman Sculpture of the 'David'

Italian White Terracotta Bust of the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, Octavian

Sculpture Bust Roman Emperor White and Red Marble

Classic Italian Roman Sculpture of the 'David' on Black Marble Base

Italian Glazed Ceramic Bust of a Classical Roman by Santa Monica

Italian Marble Sculpture of Apollo

Large Antique Sculpted Marble Figure of Caesar Augustus

Italian Carrara Marble Bust Augustus Caesar

French Plaster Bust of a Classical Roman Male

1 of 20

White Marble Italian Sculpture Classical Roman of Augustus Pontifex Maximus

About the Item

The Via Labicana Augustus is a sculpture of the Roman emperor Augustus as Pontifex Maximus with his head veiled for a sacrifice. The statue is dated as having been made after 12 BC. It was found on slopes of Oppian Hill, in the Via Labicana, in 1910. It is now in the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme at the National Museum of Rome. The statue adds another aspect to Augustus' self-representation; not only is he the political head of the Roman Empire, he is also the religious head of it. In the Res Gestae 19-21 he talks about all of his religious benefactions to the city of Rome, such as building temples for "Minerva, Queen Juno and Jupiter Libertas." Augustan representations in statue form are highly controlled to the extent that there are only three or four different subgroups; based on features such as the detail of the hairstyle this may be classified as one of the "Prima Porta type". As with all of Augustus' statues he is depicted in an idealizing Greek style and as much younger than his actual age at the time, as opposed to the traditional Republican Roman portraiture, which is realist in its approach. Augustus (Latin: Imperator Caesar Divi filius Augustus; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August 14 AD) was a Roman statesman and military leader who was the first Emperor of the Roman Empire, controlling Imperial Rome from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. His status as the founder of the Roman Principate has consolidated an enduring legacy as one of the most effective and controversial leaders in human history. He was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus into an old and wealthy equestrian branch of the plebeian gens Octavia. His maternal great-uncle Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, and Octavius was named in Caesar's will as his adopted son and heir. Then known simply as Octavianus (often anglicized to Octavian), he along with Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus formed the Second Triumvirate to defeat the assassins of Caesar. Following their victory at the Battle of Philippi, the Triumvirate divided the Roman Republic among themselves and ruled as military dictators. The Triumvirate was eventually torn apart by the competing ambitions of its members. Lepidus was driven into exile and stripped of his position, and Antony committed suicide following his defeat at the Battle of Actium by Octavian in 31 BC. After the demise of the Second Triumvirate, Augustus restored the outward façade of the free Republic, with governmental power vested in the Roman Senate, the executive magistrates, and the legislative assemblies. In reality, however, he retained his autocratic power over the Republic as a military dictator. By law, Augustus held a collection of powers granted to him for life by the Senate, including supreme military command, and those of tribune and censor. It took several years for Augustus to develop the framework within which a formally republican state could be led under his sole rule. He rejected monarchical titles, and instead called himself Princeps Civitatis ("First Citizen of the State"). The resulting constitutional framework became known as the Principate, the first phase of the Roman Empire. The reign of Augustus initiated an era of relative peace known as the Pax Romana. The Roman world was largely free-from large-scale conflict for more than two centuries, despite continuous wars of imperial expansion on the Empire's frontiers and the year-long civil war known as the "Year of the Four Emperors" over the imperial succession. Augustus dramatically enlarged the Empire, annexing Egypt, Dalmatia, Pannonia, Noricum, and Raetia; expanding possessions in Africa; expanding into Germania; and completing the conquest of Hispania. Beyond the frontiers, he secured the Empire with a buffer region of client states and made peace with the Parthian Empire through diplomacy. He reformed the Roman system of taxation, developed networks of roads with an official courier system, established a standing army, established the Praetorian Guard, created official police and fire-fighting services for Rome, and rebuilt much of the city during his reign. Augustus died in AD 14 at the age of 75. He probably died from natural causes, although there were unconfirmed rumors that his wife Livia poisoned him. He was succeeded as Emperor by his adopted son (also stepson and former son-in-law) Tiberius.

Dimensions:
Height: 22.05 in (56 cm)Width: 7.49 in (19 cm)Depth: 5.12 in (13 cm)
Style:
Classical Roman (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Statuary Marble,Hand-Carved
Place of Origin:
Italy
Period:
20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
After 1900
Condition:
Seller Location:
Roma, IT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU2433310893851