1.18.08
Pompey Art the Great Roman Republican Period 50 BCE Pompey est. some new roman provinces Gvnt. Is governed by a Senate- property owners and upper class 60 BCE, a crisis, the senate was having trouble agreeing- 3 men saw this as an opportunity to seize power- Pompey the Great, Julius Caeser, and Cassus....formed the 1st Triumveriate Pompey was married to caesar's daughter, Julia. Cassus was rich, the money, and Pompey and Ceasar are the military men. Cassus dies. And they struggle with power, didn't want 1 person in charge. Caesar wanted sole control, and pompey wanted it spread out. In 48 BCE, Caesar defeated Pompey and his followers. Pompey fled to Europe where he was married. Caesar was appointed `dictator for life.' Portrait bust were common among the upper class. They were displayed in your home. It est. your lineage. Pompey's is 9 ' high and carved out of marble. Not typical roman portraiture. Most are naturalistic- varism, warts in all approach. Every wrinkle is shown on the face and show wisdom, character, etc. Pompey's was done when he was about 58 years. Old and he was a military man. Has a few creasing in the brow and a few wrinkles around the eye. Has been smoothed over, a touch of vitalization. Has a fleshy rounded face, a double chin. We know this looks like Pompey from Roman coins. The same wrinkly brow, big nose, and double chin. His hair is full and tossed up a little bit. Scholars think that his hair has to do w/ one of his heroes- Alexander the Great. (great Macedonian military leader, known for his long flowing locks)
We know from Plutar that Pompey modeled his career from Alexander the Great. Leaders mixed a likeness of themselves with an agenda.
Augustus Primaporta Roman Imperial Period 1st Century CE marble copy of bronze original of 20 BCE
Augustus is born in 63 BCE, Auguvus Octavus. His father dies when he was 4 and he is adopted in 48 BCE. 4 years after that, Caesar is murdered by Roman senators on the floor of the Roman senate. Cival war broke out over Rome. 2nd triumvirate was formed- (3 ppl again) Guyas Octavus, Mark Anthony, and Lepidus. When they took over, Guyas Octavus went to the Roman senate and made them deafy Caesar. Deafy- make a god Guyas Octavus is now the son of a god. Divide rome into 3. Lepidus gets Africa. Mark Antony gets the Eastern provinces including Egypt. Guyas Octavus gets Western provinces and the city of Rome itself. Lepidus is happy in Africa, but the other 2 bc locked in a power struggle. In 31 BCE, Guyas Octavus defeats Anthony at Antatium. He is now sole ruler of Rome and bc the 1st roman emperor and given the title Augustus. In 27 BCE In 20 BCE, he wins a major diplomatic victory over the Partheons. He did that all through diplomacy...formed the Pax Romana- roman peace 14CE Augustus died.
His statue is 6',8" tall and found in his wife, Olivia's, home outside of Primaporta (right outside of Rome) Iconography- the study of symbols in their original context Looks like dorophorous a Holding weapon, controposto pose, one leg bent and one st (same w/ arms), head and face are similar Oratorical pose is a reference to his skill w/ words, his powers of persuasion Message is I will talk and negotiate, but if I have to, I will go to war w/ u. he is wearing a military costume and holding a weapon. In his early 40's when this statue was done, and Dorophorous was in his 20's. Romans admired Greeks and greek culture. It was an effort to evoke that golden age of Greece when Greece defeated the Persians in 43 BCE. Augustus has a attribute...a dolphin he was riding on. Dolphin is associated w/ the sea->could symbolize his victory over Antony or he says it symbolizes his relation of Athena Bare feet represent that he is standing on holy ground. Descendent of gods, but never allowed himself to be spoken of as a god. Face has no wrinkles, ears stand away from head, nice full lips, high cheek bones, has a bump in the nose bridge His breastplate shows a lot. Top flaps that hold the plate in place shows the Cumian Cybil- Cybil is a profit that prophecied that when the Roman standards were returned from the Partheons, peace would rule in Rome. Middle 2 figures show the return of the roman figures..left is Tiberous- his son by Lybia. Tiberous is Augustus' appointed successor The bottom is a dog-> Romulous and Remus...2 brothers that were abandoned and were raised by wolves. Romulus killed Remus. Above this all is a variety of Roman gods....the one in the middle is Colousroman sky god....chariot is Ephilious- sun god....to the right w/ the tourch is ___and luna
Right ab area is Diana, goddess of the hunt and on the left opposite is Apolo, god of reason Above Diana is Gual and above Apolo is Spain Down below is Venus Genetrex, earth goddess-> has a cornucopia filled w/ the fruits of the earth.
1st assignment- comparative essay bw palate of king narmer and statue of augustus. Due Wednesday. Ask who, what, when, where and why? NarmerEgyptian Low relief AugustusRoman Low relief Both have images from gods. Both show hierarchy of scale. Both are warriors. Both were very important during their time period. Both are threatening violence on someone in some way. Who? King Narmer (hiearchy of scale shows that he is the important, hieroglyphics on the pallatte show that it is King Narmer) Augustus, found in his wife's home and looks like him King Narmer has a composite view and a twisted perspective- force to gain authority. Augustus is a controposto pose and willing to talk and negotiate, but willing to use power.
Augustus is looking back at Dprophyus- trying to evoke the idea of the Greek golden age. Common denominator- both had a theme of uniting 2 lands to create a stronger empire- narmer, lower and upper Egypt, and breastplate of Augustus, spania and gala and the return of the partheon standards. Thesis statement is the argument and why we are doing the comparison. Need a conclusion. Connection to the gods and goddesses.....