Ceremonial Front
original west front
The Lupercal, Romulous and Remus
Although only a few pieces of this original relief have survived, they are significant enough to allow tentative reconstruction of the entire scene. The reconstructive incised drawing on this panel is the most entensive of the entire altar. As elsewhere, this is based on comparison with related representations of the scene on other Roman objects. Although some of the details are speculative, the scene most probably represented the Lupercal grotto on the Palatine Hill, with the twins Romulus and Remus being suckled by the she-wolf. Mars, their father, approaches at the left while Faustulus, the shepherd who raised them, protects at the right.
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Flat lighting. The scene approximately reconsturcted through comparison with related images. photo July 2008 |
Raking sunlight calls attention to original sculpted forms set into flat background. photo Oct. 2008
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Demonstration of an innovative, technically complex color projection to suggest the original colors of the front facades. photo May 2010
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Mars, as warrior, wears a plumed helmet with leaping griffin and a breastplate with winged gorgon head. photo Oct. 2008
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"Ara Pacis: head of Mars from Lupercal Scene. Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano". Scanned from Jocelyn M.C. Toynebee, The Ara Pacis Reconsidered and Historical Art in Roman Italy, Proceedings of the British Academy (London: Geoffrey Cumberledge, 1953, pl. 12a. © The British Academy 1953. Reproduced by permission from Proceedings of the British Academy, vol. 39. Reproduced with appreciation. |
Slightly more than half of Mars' face has been carved; curving plumes, the shoulders relatively full. photo July 2008
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A few of the well-preserved fragments; here portions of Mars' bent knee, leg, and foot, and the lower portion of his cloak seemingly gathered over his right hip. photo Oct. 2008 |
Extensively developed reconstruction drawing incised in mortar; representing Romulus and Remus suckled by the she-wolf photo July 2008
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Toward the left a small potion of a tree, usually identified as a fig. Only portions of the shepherds right arm and hip mantle survive, but related images suggest the figure as reconstructed. photo July 2008
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Demonstration of an innovative, technically complex color projection to suggest the original colors of the front facades. photo May 2010
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A detail of an upright lance in the original marble has been extended with lines above and below inthis reconstruction. At the side of the original marble are traces of laural, perhaps around the lance. photo July 2008 |
The plumes are partly marble, partly drawn. Winged griffin in semi-relief. photo July 2008
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