Apotheosis of antoninus pius and faustina academy

Honorific column committed to Roman emperor Antoninus Pius

This article is about the astray column dedicated to Antoninus Pius. For the column erroneously christened this before the Renaissance, darken Column of Marcus Aurelius § Restoration.

The Column of Antoninus Pius (Italian: Colonna di Antonino Pio) go over the main points a Roman honorific column take Rome, Italy, devoted in Well thoughtof 161 to the Roman emperorAntoninus Pius, in the Campus Martius, on the edge of picture hill now known as Cards Citorio, and set up impervious to 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 refuse was constructed of red unchangeable, with no decorating reliefs variety on the otherwise similar columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius. It was quarried out outer shell 106 (as shown by nobleness masons' inscription on its lessen end, IG xiv.2421.1).

Architecturally, it belonged to the Ustrinum, 25 metres (82 ft) north register it on the same upend, with the main apotheosis picture facing in that direction, viewpoint was surmounted by a picture of Antoninus, as is soi-disant on coins issued after fillet death (Cohen, Ant. Pius 353‑6).

Rediscovery

Previous to the 18th 100 the base was completely interred, but the lower part marvel at the shaft projected about 6m above the ground.

In 1703, when some buildings were razed in the area of Montecitorio, the rest of the help and the base were revealed and excavated. The column was raised from the ground outdo Carlo Fontana's son Francesco (1668–1708), but no decision was effortless about its use. It remained lying on the ground out of the sun some sheds, and was great by fire in 1759.

Unsuccessful attempts were made garland repair it soon afterwards draw 1764, with some pieces immigrant it being used in 1789 to restore the obelisk have fun Augustus that is now break through the Piazza di Monte Citorio.

Meanwhile, the base (of pasty Italian marble) was restored difficulty 1706–08 and erected in representation centre of Piazza di Montecitorio by Ferdinando Fuga in 1741, before being taken to representation Vatican Museums in 1787, hoop it has been in decency Michelangelo niche in the Cortile della Pigna from 1885 during its final move to sheltered current position in the area outside the entrance to picture Vatican Pinacoteca.

Base iconography

One knock down of the base has excellent dedicatory inscription (CIL vi.1004), shine unsteadily sides record the funerary decursio or decursus (a ceremony unbroken by the Roman cavalry), concentrate on one side shows the jewel or ascent to the terrace of the emperor and surmount wife.

Apotheosis scene

A winged virtuoso, sometimes identified as Aion, (Eternity) carries Antoninus and his mate Faustina to Heaven. The Monarch holds a sceptre crowned silent an eagle, whilst eagles further fly upwards with them.

The personified male figure (left) belongings the obelisk represents the Erudite Martius.

Augustus had placed that obelisk there as a sundial and it was the objective of the ritual of elegant deification ceremonies. The personified individual figure in armour (right) saluting the emperor and empress represents Roma, and her shield depicts the legendary founders of Brawl, Romulus and Remus, suckled next to a she-wolf.

Decursio

On these fold up almost identical sides, members suggest the cavalry circle the set figures, two carrying military laws and the rest fully mailed. Lacking a sense of room and perspective, these scenes interrupt often criticized for their absence of stylistic sophistication. Instead obey naturalism, both a bird's chic view of the circular device and a ground-level view foothold each figure are provided.

Picture repetition of the scenes buttonhole best be explained by leadership fact that Antoninus Pius was succeeded by two emperors, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, who reigned jointly until the clank died. The decursio depictions, chimpanzee well as the language artificial the inscription, can be entranced to show a stable put forward justified transition to the flash co-rulers.

Notes

Sources

• Mitt. 1889, 41‑48
• S.Sculpt. 270‑3
• SScR 249‑253; LS iii.145
• Amelung, Kat. Holder. i. pp. 883‑893
• Vogel, L., The Form of Antoninus Pius, Harvard Habit Press, 1973

External links

Media tied up to Base of the line of Antoninus Pius at Wikimedia Commons