Augustus Of Primaporta Statue Analysis

The statue Augustus of Primaporta was not only used to convey the likeness of the Emperor Augustus to his people across the Roman Empire, it was also interspersed with symbols and messages about the ruler’s ideals and power. It was distributed throughout the empire as propaganda for Augustus and as a declaration of the new era he intended to bring about. This strategic imagery and its successfulness in conveying the greatness of its commissioner influenced many successive leaders around the world to command similarly symbolic likenesses to be made of themselves, such as Trajan in the second century CE. The statue has a wide, confident stance and an authoritative stature, with an arm raised as if giving orders to an army or proclaiming a great oration to inspire his people. Not only does Augustus of Primaporta depict Augustus as physically perfect, youthful, and very athletic, it also calls …show more content…

It set the standard for political art and, due to the effectiveness of Augustus’ rule, exemplified the importance of a ruler’s public image. As a result, in the second century, Trajan had a similar statue made of himself for the same purpose: to glorify himself as a leader and gain the respect of his people. Parallels can be drawn in the youthful yet authoritative appearance of Trajan and Augustus, as well as in the almost identical stance: feet firmly planted and one arm raised as if in the midst of a powerful speech. Trajan is also dressed in a military uniform, and wears a cuirass interspersed with meaning. On the top of the cuirass is a sun, representing a time of plenty under Trajan’s leadership, similar to the breastplate of Augustus. Underneath, two winged women, most likely representing plenty or the blessing of the divine, meet in the middle of the Trajan’s