The Augustus of First Door, also known as Augustus loricato (from lorica, the armor of the legionnaires) is a Roman statue made of white marble and is kept in the Vatican Museum.
The statue of the emperor is depicted standing, with the right arm raised and the gesture of drawing attention: it is the pose that required the silence before the adlocutio (incitement to the army before the battle). The figure wears the armour which is richly adherent and decorated, highlighting the athletic body, which recalls the Greek sculptures of certain heroes. The reliefs that decorate it are of great symbolic importance, with particular reference to contemporary history and to the ideology of Augustus. There are depicted the personification of the sky and the quadriga of the sun preceded by the aurora and the dew. At the center the return of the signs taken from Crassus defeated and killed by the Parti, is visible. On the sides, the two female figures represent the allegories of Germany and Pannonia won by Tiberius. The woman with a horn in her hand and two children near is the symbol of abundance. Finally, on both sides, Apollo on a griffin and Diana on a deer stand out.
Below the armour Augustus is wearing the short military tunic. A paludamentum (cloak) envelops his hips, falling softly on his left hand, with a particularly elaborate drapery. In the same hand he holds the spear. On the right leg is a child: Eros, riding a dolphin. Eros was the son of Venus and the dolphin her tribute; in fact it symbolizes the birth of the goddess of water, to which he was considered descending from. The emperor is portrayed, at least in the face, in his real features, even if idealized in the celebration of his office.
To request info for this item please use the following form