Museum of the Ara Pacis, Rome
Museum "The Ara Pacis Augustae" is a unique historical monument of the era of Octavian Augustus, located in the Italian capital, on the banks of the Tiber River, in the area of Campo-Marzio. The monument was created in 13 BC as a memorial altar. The main reason for the building of the monument was the military victory of Emperor Augustus and as a result the end of the long civil war in the Roman Empire.
Sculptures of the "Altar of Augustan Peace"
The memorial altar in its architecture retained the most typical features of such structures in the ancient period. It was built in honor of the goddess Pax. It is worth noting that at that time the inhabitants of Rome did not worship this goddess, her worshipping became popular during the reign of Emperor Augustus. The image of the Goddess is of a young woman with an olive branch and a cornucopia in her hands. Solemn sacrifices on the altar were performed twice a year.
Special attention should be paid to the marble walls of the altar, which are decorated with various sculptures and bas-reliefs.
- On the north and south sides there are fragments of a sacrificial procession. It is headed by the Emperor Augustus itself, followed by the priests, the family of the emperor, and also the honorable inhabitants of Rome. In each sculpture there is an incredible portrait similarity of all members of the procession and even after two thousand years it did not fade. Happy children who smile and talk with each other look particularly attractive.
- The western side of the altar is the image of two goddesses who were the patrons of Rome: Tellus is the goddess of fertility, she is immortalized with two babies in her arms, she is holding one on her knees and is breast-feeding the other. The second goddess is Roma, her image, unfortunately, is almost not preserved, but judging from the restored details, she had most likely sat on the throne made out of the armor and swords of defeated enemies, and in her hands she held the image of the goddess of Victory – Victoria. These sculptures served as a reminder to the inhabitants about the endless care of the emperor.
- The eastern side has the bas-reliefs, which are dedicated to the history of the Roman Empire.
Thanks to such a cluster of attractions, "Ara Pacis" is the most important monument of the ancient period. After visiting the memorial, you will learn about the history, culture, as well as the traditions of Roman society of that period.
The History of the "Ara Pacis" in Rome
For many years the altar was one of the main attractions of the Roman Empire, however, in the 7th century, after the fall of the empire, the Tiber River overflown the banks and completely flooded the altar.
Separately preserved elements of sculptures and bas-reliefs were first discovered in the 16th century, when the water receded. However, the first excavations were started in the 19th century. In the early 20th century, in 1938, according to the project of architect Vittorio Morpurgo, a protective structure for an ancient monument was built. However, 50 years have passed and the building began to gradually deteriorate and threatened the security of the building, so in 2006 it was decided to build a new modern museum complex.
The grand opening of the monument was timed to coincide with the celebration of the founding of Rome. The building, which was built according to the design of Richard Mayer, consists of several rooms: a hall with an altar, auditoriums and exhibition halls.
How to Get There
In order to reach the museum, take the metro to Flaminio station and then walk 500 m. Also you can take bus № 628-926, 224 and 590. Stop Augusto Imperatore/Ara Pacis. On the embankment of the Tiber River, near the "Ara Pacis" there is a parking lot.
Opening hours: from 09:00 to 19:00 (closed on Sundays).
