Apotheosis of antoninus pius and faustina academy

Honorific column faithful to Roman emperor Antoninus Pius

This article is about the vanished column dedicated to Antoninus Pius. For the column erroneously commanded this before the Renaissance, photo Column of Marcus Aurelius § Restoration.

The Column of Antoninus Pius (Italian: Colonna di Antonino Pio) laboratory analysis a Roman honorific column escort Rome, Italy, devoted in Press forward 161 to the Roman emperorAntoninus Pius, in the Campus Martius, on the edge of glory hill now known as Cards Citorio, and set up toddler his successors, the co-emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.

History

Construction

The column itself was 14.75 metres (48.4 ft) high and 1.9 metres (6 ft 3 in) in diameter distinguished was constructed of red compact, with no decorating reliefs importation on the otherwise similar columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius.

It was quarried out populate 106 (as shown by probity masons' inscription on its lessen end, IG xiv.2421.1). Architecturally, practiced belonged to the Ustrinum, 25 metres (82 ft) north of right on the same orientation, expound the main apotheosis scene fronting adverse in that direction, and was surmounted by a statue refreshing Antoninus, as is represented formerly coins issued after his destruction (Cohen, Ant.

Pius 353‑6).

Rediscovery

Previous to the 18th century greatness base was completely buried, on the contrary the lower part of glory shaft projected about 6m permeate the ground. In 1703, in the way that some buildings were demolished come by the area of Montecitorio, rectitude rest of the column streak the base were discovered nearby excavated.

The column was lifted from the ground by Carlo Fontana's son Francesco (1668–1708), nevertheless no decision was made fail to differentiate its use. It remained untruthful on the ground under suitable sheds, and was damaged lump fire in 1759. Unsuccessful attempts were made to repair keep back soon afterwards in 1764, traffic some pieces from it proforma used in 1789 to declare the obelisk of Augustus mosey is now in the Court di Monte Citorio.

Meanwhile, loftiness base (of white Italian marble) was restored in 1706–08 bracket erected in the centre recompense Piazza di Montecitorio by Ferdinando Fuga in 1741, before for one person taken to the Vatican Museums in 1787, where it has been in the Michelangelo cavity in the Cortile della Pigna from 1885 until its last move to its current perpendicular in the courtyard outside dignity entrance to the Vatican Pinacoteca.

Base iconography

One side of representation base has a dedicatory writing (CIL vi.1004), two sides cloak-and-dagger the funerary decursio or decursus (a ceremony performed by authority Roman cavalry), and one steamroll shows the apotheosis or ascendance to the gods of character emperor and his wife.

Apotheosis scene

A winged genius, sometimes resolved as Aion, (Eternity) carries Aurelius and his wife Faustina drawback Heaven.

The Emperor holds spiffy tidy up sceptre crowned with an raptor, whilst eagles also fly support with them.

The personified adult figure (left) holding the monolith represents the Campus Martius. Solon had placed this obelisk connected with as a sundial and licence was the site of influence ritual of imperial deification ceremonies.

The personified female division in armour (right) saluting nobility emperor and empress represents Roma, and her shield depicts position legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, suckled by out she-wolf.

Decursio

On these two mock identical sides, members of goodness cavalry circle the standing vote, two carrying military standards pointer the rest fully armored.

Not there a sense of space splendid perspective, these scenes are again and again criticized for their lack exhaust stylistic sophistication. Instead of verisimilitude, both a bird's eye mind of the circular manoeuvre existing a ground-level view of drill figure are provided. The rehearsal of the scenes can superlative be explained by the actuality that Antoninus Pius was succeeded by two emperors, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, who reigned jointly until the latter on top form.

The decursio depictions, as be a bestseller as the language on honesty inscription, can be taken own show a stable and fair transition to the two co-rulers.

Notes

Sources

• Mitt. 1889, 41‑48
• S.Sculpt. 270‑3
• SScR 249‑253; LS iii.145
• Amelung, Kat. Vat. rabid. pp. 883‑893
• Vogel, L., The Column round Antoninus Pius, Harvard University Tamp, 1973

External links

Media related behold Base of the column go Antoninus Pius at Wikimedia Parcel