Analysis Of The Head Of Augustus

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The Head of Augustus, that is located in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a combination of Roman and Egyptian art. The Roman technique used to sculpt Augustus’ head is highly valued, but it is the Egyptian faience practice that makes this work of art significant. To best understand why this sculpture was created under the influence of these two cultures, a brief review of history is discussed.
Augustus is well known for developing a wide-spread Roman empire that included the provinces of Egypt, Cyprus, Spain, Gaul and Syria. The Egyptian influence resulted from the Battle of Actium in 31 B.C and negotiations with Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII. Egypt became a Roman province under the direct control of Augustus. He ruled as the pharaoh in Egypt and called himself, “the offspring of the gods.” …show more content…

The glaze coating could be a variety of colors, depending on the minerals used. Turquoise was the most common color.
Given the influence of Augustus’ love of marble throughout his architectural undertakings, it would be expected that this finer material would be used to create his head. The aristocrats loved identifying marble from different countries, and this interest became a preoccupation of the elite. They wanted knowledge about the origins of each kind of marble. Marble was so prevalent in the Roman holdings that Augustus boasted that he had transformed Rome "from a city of brick into a city of marble."
So, why was faience used? Often, Egyptians used faience-glazed objects in a religious setting such as funerals to honor the deceased by recognizing the blue color as a protective element as they journeyed into their afterlife. Blue also was considered a color that carried the meanings of longevity and prosperity, so that is why it was seen on many sacred objects such as the head of

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