The first Roman Emperor, Augustus, began his reign in 27 BC with the establishment of an era known as Pax Romana or The Roman Peace, a span of roughly two hundred years involving peacefulness and minimal expansion by Roman military forces. Considered a miracle following the end of the Final War of the Roman Republic, the Roman Senate commissioned Ara Pacis Augustea or Altar of Augustan Peace, to honor the Emperor, and align his leadership with the Roman goddess of peace, Pax. A correlation that emphasizes the definition of the 19th century term ‘cult of personality’, the establishment of similarities between the Roman goddess of peace, Pax and Augustus, as reflected on the north and south façades of the Ara Pacis. The Ara Pacis is a small
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A procession, known as the Worship of Peace, an organized event put on during the rule of Augustus, represents the Emperor 's blatant attempt to pay homage to the goddess. Two tiers of friezes on the north and south façades of the Ara Pacis illustrate the Worship of Peace; on the south side is Augustus, as well as the imperial family. On the north wall are officials as magistrates, senators, priest, and their families. The imperial cult emphasized the correlation between the Emperor and Pax, in addition to his family, and those represented in the procession frieze, an association that suggest their mysticism within the republic. Rulers often associated themselves with divinity, projecting their rule as righteous; this is defined as Imperial …show more content…
Each image distinctly referencing the Emperor’s importance and success, a system highly regarded as cult of personalities, the repetition of Augustus image, along with associations reflected in divinity. Historically, the representation of rulers as gods is prominent. Louis XIV of France depicted himself as France’s Sun King, displaying his face atop of the golden beams of the sun, introducing 18th century France to the idea of divinity and rulers. Just as Augustus associates his reign with Pax, following the Final War of the Roman Republic, which was followed by an era know as Pax Romana, or the Roman Peace. Augustus constructed the personification as a messianic figure, personally and rationally instigated a "golden age", or the Pax Augusta and served as patron, priest and protégé to a variety of solar deities. The association presented the Roman Empire with aligned leadership, the gods and the
A procession, known as the Worship of Peace, an organized event put on during the rule of Augustus, represents the Emperor 's blatant attempt to pay homage to the goddess. Two tiers of friezes on the north and south façades of the Ara Pacis illustrate the Worship of Peace; on the south side is Augustus, as well as the imperial family. On the north wall are officials as magistrates, senators, priest, and their families. The imperial cult emphasized the correlation between the Emperor and Pax, in addition to his family, and those represented in the procession frieze, an association that suggest their mysticism within the republic. Rulers often associated themselves with divinity, projecting their rule as righteous; this is defined as Imperial …show more content…
Each image distinctly referencing the Emperor’s importance and success, a system highly regarded as cult of personalities, the repetition of Augustus image, along with associations reflected in divinity. Historically, the representation of rulers as gods is prominent. Louis XIV of France depicted himself as France’s Sun King, displaying his face atop of the golden beams of the sun, introducing 18th century France to the idea of divinity and rulers. Just as Augustus associates his reign with Pax, following the Final War of the Roman Republic, which was followed by an era know as Pax Romana, or the Roman Peace. Augustus constructed the personification as a messianic figure, personally and rationally instigated a "golden age", or the Pax Augusta and served as patron, priest and protégé to a variety of solar deities. The association presented the Roman Empire with aligned leadership, the gods and the