Augustus's Influence On Roman Architecture

Augustus changed the image of Roman leadership through art and architecture. Prior to Augustus gaining power, his great-uncle and adopted father, Julius Caesar was killed. Caesar’s death marked great change for the history of the Roman Republic. Augustus, then named Octavian went to Rome to avenge Caesar’s death and soon became a great warrior involved in the Second Triumvirate. Not long after forming alliances with Mark Antony and Lepidus, Augustus gained full control of all Roman territories. When he gained power of Rome, the influence of art was used differently. Art was used as a tool to show his political image across the population. Additionally, one of the most important aspects of Augustus’ rule is showing his relationship to Julius

This structure is very large and important in his propaganda strategy with the Julian family. No other structure was built like this across the Roman Empire. Only Hadrian’s Mausoleum competes with the size and quality of Augustus’ Mausoleum (Johnson, 1996, p.217). The mausoleum has characteristics of Etruscan tombs or tumuli. Etruscan tombs were large monuments and had tumuli, which are a circular retaining wall and a mound. Additionally, by creating an Etruscan monument, he showed the population of the empire that he was of Italian heritage and that he was reviving the religious and moral values of the past. Also, Augustus finished the establishment of his mausoleum and placed ashes of his ancestors in the tomb. He used his own mausoleum to link himself with the Julian family and Julius Caesar. By adding the ashes of his deceased ancestors he was again successful in including himself in the history of the

The whole structure is of sculpted relief showing great detail and the use of peace as a main message. Mythological stories are also used to enhance his views of peace and prosperity. On one panel, Mother Earth or peace is depicted with a sheep and cow with personifications of water, air, and sea. Another relief on the Ara Pacis is the sacrifice of a sow by Aeneas. In Virgil’s Aeneid, Aeneas was given the prophecy that he would find Rome. The settlement of Rome was when Aeneas finds a sow. Augustus again shows his relationship with the founding of Rome in a different story but he still relates his ancestry in some