myth and symbols of power

Question 1

why did the Greeks choose to show the Centauromachy on the Parthenon

Answer 1

• victory for civilisation over barbarism
• Athenians showing Persians they won’t defeat them again

Question 2

main 3 objectives for a metope of frieze to be successful?

Answer 2

• easily recognisable
• realism -> high and low relief
• no blank spaces

Question 3

battles between Greeks and Amazons:

Answer 3

• 2 main battles
• first between Heracles and Hippolyte for his 9th labour
• Heracles brought back an Amazonian woman as a gift for Theseus
• enraged at this the Amazons declared war on Greece
• Theseus and Heracles led an army of Athenians against them
• represent Greek triumph over foreigners

Question 4

where is the Heraclean amazonomachy shown

Answer 4

Bassae Frieze, temple of Apollo
- inner frieze

Question 5

why did the Greeks choose to depict the Heraclean amazonomachy on the inner frieze?

Answer 5

• can see it all while standing in one place
• symbolises Greek victory over barbarians
• Bassae are quite a small place; they want to be noticed and to celebrate their Greekness
• well known scene/good scene for frieze

Question 6

main messages of architecture under Augustus

Answer 6

• recreate golden age of architecture
• Pax Romana
• Pax Deorum
• self and family promotion

Question 7

Ara Pacis:

Answer 7

• commissioned by senate to honour Augustus’ return from Hispania
• celebrates bringing of peace in Hispania
• shows scenes linking Augustus’ family to gods and heroes
  -> Romulus and Remus with she-wolf
  -> one scene may be Aeneas offering sacrifice with Arapacis and his son
  Tulus
  -> OR Numa (second king of Rome, who built temple of Janus), he is peaceful
• scenes showing gods
• scenes showing Augustus family
• scenes showing religious procession to Ara Pacis
• images of floral patterns -> everything fluorishes under Augustus
• images of founders of Rome
  -> reminded Romans of who they were and where they came from

Question 8

Pax Romana on Prima Porta:

Answer 8

• shows return of Roman standards
• image of Tellus (Mother Earth) - maybe symbolises peace and prosperity under Augustus
• Sphinxes on his shoulder armour show defeat of Cleopatra and Anthony + peace in empire as result. restoring Egypt peacefully into empire

Question 9

Pax Romana on Ara Pacis:

Answer 9

• image of Tellus or it could be Pax (peace)
• floral designs show everything is flourishing under Augustus
• image of Numa, who built the temple of Janus - Augustus closed Temple of Janus to symbolise peace across empire
• the whole Ara Pacis commemorates Augustus bringing peace to Roman Empire by ending rebellions in Spain and Gaul

Question 10

recreate golden age of architecture on Prima Porta

Answer 10

based on the Doryphoros by Polykleitos from 5th century BC Athens

Question 11

recreate golden age of architecture on Ara Pacis

Answer 11

similar style frieze to the Parthenon

Question 12

self and family promotion on Prima Porta

Answer 12

• power pose - arm raised
• breastplate and toga show he’s great in war and politics
• cupid at his feet signifying his family link back to gods/Venus
• bare feet (usually reserved for gods and heroes), to show his power + reminder that he has lineage back to gods .e.g. adopted son of Julius Caesar who was deified
• Tiberius getting standards back (his son-in-law and stepson)

Question 13

self and family promotion on ara pacis

Answer 13

• procession showing him as Pontifex Maximus + his wife and many other family members
• image of Venus - linking him back to gods

Question 14

pax Deorum on Prima Porta

Answer 14

lots of images of gods on it including Cupid, but also Apollo (Augustus’ patron god)

Question 15

pax Deorum on Ara Pacis

Answer 15

• Mars on image of Romulus and Remus -> links Rome back to Mars and claims that Rome’s empire was favoured by the gods
• image of Roma?
• Venus (showing Augustus link back to gods) or Tellus (showing gods bringing peace and prosperity for Rome)