Compare And Contrast Aurelius And Augustus

Nations today strive to resemble the Roman Empire. The commonwealth not only completed marvelous engineering feats, but also developed a system of government that allowed for prosperity among its citizens. This was mainly possible because of influential leaders that steered the empire. The first ruler, Augustus, was a merciless rebel early in his career, but soon became an astute general by winning numerous wars and uniting the people in his empire. After more than a century of Augustus’s reign, Marcus Aurelius championed the highest seat in Roman society. Aurelius, unlike his counterpart Augustus, was a benevolent commander who practiced stoicism. The two emperor’s respective natures are depicted in prominent artwork from the time, primarily …show more content…
There is no apparent symbolism to suggest Aurelius’s divine stature, even his feet are covered unlike Augustus’s as not to indicate standing upon any amount of divinity. Aurelius ruled his empire with a more grounded sense of self than Augustus. He was not motivated by personal or familial glory, which is clearly stated in the statue of Augustus. Marcus Aurelius was known for being a stoic philosopher, a great orator, and a diplomat who was welcomed by the Romans and therefore similarly idealized in the sculpture. Even though he was a philosopher, Aurelius was also a commander and that is indicated in the statue as well. The separate horse piece is lively yet controlled by Aurelius, which is appropriate for a philosophical based king. Augustus was concerned with dynastic and propagandist views. The node to the cupid and the shame of the Parthians depicted on his breastplate clearly infer to his glorified lineage. Contrarily, the statue of Aurelius is humble in nature and focuses on Aurelius’s personal characteristics rather than his pedigree. The adlocutio, or the right outstretched arm referring to an address, is a commonality in both the Prima Porta and Aurelius statue. Augustus’s adlocutio is counterbalanced by his falling left leg, but still the focus is on the martial attire of Augustus, which when combined with the adlocutio pose clearly indicates that Augustus is addressing his troops. Oppositely, Aurelius’s pose is more concerned with displaying clemency, while sporting a simple robe, rather than addressing his combatant soldiers. This can further be analyzed by centering the facial expressions of the emperors. Augustus is idealized and tense whereas Aurelius is mature and calm, which is further reflective of his curly hair. Also, note that the Aurelius portrait is much more simpler than that of Augustus. This is