Ovid and the Julio-Claudians: “Tripudium” Scene – “Love, Myths and Other Stories” – LXXXIX
Altar dedicated to Lares Augusti by Vicomagistri of Vicus Sandalarius.
The front of the altar features a scene of “tripudium” (divination), as indicated by the cockerel captured in the act of pecking, thereby acting as a good omen before a military campaign. In the center is Augustus, presented as “pontifex maximus” and bearing the “lituus” (curved augural staff), as he presides aver the augural event. The fenale figure an the right, wearing a tiara and neck “torques”, could be a priestess of Cybele depicted as a “Venus Genetrix”. The young man with veiled head on the left can be associated with Gaius Caesar, who headed the Roman Troops in Asia Minor between 2 and 1 BC. On the other two sides we can see a pair of Lares and a Winged Victory adorning a trophy with a shield.
An inscription running on main and short left side reads:
Imp(eratore) Caesare Augusto XIII M(arco) Plautio Silvan(o) co(n)s(ulibus) /
D(ecimus) Oppius |(mulieris) l(ibertus) Iaso D(ecimus) Lucilius D(ecimi) l(ibertus) Salvius L(ucius) Brinnius |(mulieris) l(ibertus) Princeps L(ucius) Furius L(uci) l(ibertus) Salvius /
mag(istri) vici sandaliari //
Laribus Augustis [CIL VI 448]
To the Augustan Lares; when Imp. Caesar Augustus for the thirteenth time and M. Plautius Silvanus were consuls; D. Oppius, freedman of Iasus’ wife; D. Lucilius freedman of Decimus, Salvius; L Brinnius, freedman of Gaius, Princeps; L Furius, freedman of Lucius, Salvius; chief officers of the district Sandaliarus.
The “vicus sandaliari” was a street in Rome, Region IV, which evidently derived its name from the shops of the cobblers (sandaliarii). The “Vicomagistri”, officials of a “vicus”, were a miniature body politic, and were entitled to possess property, administer common funds, and appoint officials. In the late republic the “vici” offered a chance of finding a sense of community in the chaotic life of the city, and so they and their leaders played an important part in the organization of mass politics.
Augustus reorganized the “vici”. Their center was a “compitum” or cross-roads, at which a cult of the Lares or guardian deities of that locality ("Lares Compitales”) was maintained. The cult now came to include “Augustan Lares” and the genius of the emperor, “Genius Augusti”. The “magistri”, who were usually freedmen (four per vicus), became more prominent in dedicating elaborate sanctuaries or simples altars in honor of the deities protectors of the cross-road, and from 7 BC counted a sequence of five-year periods or lustra in a sort of era to date their activities in relation to the Augustan reform.
Source: Oxford Classical Dictionary
Marble altar
150 x 90 x 60 cm
2 BC
Firenze, “Galleria degli Uffizi”
Exhibition: “Ovidio: Loves, Myths & Other Stories”
Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome
Ovid and the Julio-Claudians: “Tripudium” Scene – “Love, Myths and Other Stories” – LXXXIX
Altar dedicated to Lares Augusti by Vicomagistri of Vicus Sandalarius.
The front of the altar features a scene of “tripudium” (divination), as indicated by the cockerel captured in the act of pecking, thereby acting as a good omen before a military campaign. In the center is Augustus, presented as “pontifex maximus” and bearing the “lituus” (curved augural staff), as he presides aver the augural event. The fenale figure an the right, wearing a tiara and neck “torques”, could be a priestess of Cybele depicted as a “Venus Genetrix”. The young man with veiled head on the left can be associated with Gaius Caesar, who headed the Roman Troops in Asia Minor between 2 and 1 BC. On the other two sides we can see a pair of Lares and a Winged Victory adorning a trophy with a shield.
An inscription running on main and short left side reads:
Imp(eratore) Caesare Augusto XIII M(arco) Plautio Silvan(o) co(n)s(ulibus) /
D(ecimus) Oppius |(mulieris) l(ibertus) Iaso D(ecimus) Lucilius D(ecimi) l(ibertus) Salvius L(ucius) Brinnius |(mulieris) l(ibertus) Princeps L(ucius) Furius L(uci) l(ibertus) Salvius /
mag(istri) vici sandaliari //
Laribus Augustis [CIL VI 448]
To the Augustan Lares; when Imp. Caesar Augustus for the thirteenth time and M. Plautius Silvanus were consuls; D. Oppius, freedman of Iasus’ wife; D. Lucilius freedman of Decimus, Salvius; L Brinnius, freedman of Gaius, Princeps; L Furius, freedman of Lucius, Salvius; chief officers of the district Sandaliarus.
The “vicus sandaliari” was a street in Rome, Region IV, which evidently derived its name from the shops of the cobblers (sandaliarii). The “Vicomagistri”, officials of a “vicus”, were a miniature body politic, and were entitled to possess property, administer common funds, and appoint officials. In the late republic the “vici” offered a chance of finding a sense of community in the chaotic life of the city, and so they and their leaders played an important part in the organization of mass politics.
Augustus reorganized the “vici”. Their center was a “compitum” or cross-roads, at which a cult of the Lares or guardian deities of that locality ("Lares Compitales”) was maintained. The cult now came to include “Augustan Lares” and the genius of the emperor, “Genius Augusti”. The “magistri”, who were usually freedmen (four per vicus), became more prominent in dedicating elaborate sanctuaries or simples altars in honor of the deities protectors of the cross-road, and from 7 BC counted a sequence of five-year periods or lustra in a sort of era to date their activities in relation to the Augustan reform.
Source: Oxford Classical Dictionary
Marble altar
150 x 90 x 60 cm
2 BC
Firenze, “Galleria degli Uffizi”
Exhibition: “Ovidio: Loves, Myths & Other Stories”
Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome