Ara Pacis Augustae

Model and Diagrams of the Ara Pacis

Ground Plans and Elevations

The base of the original monument was first fully uncovered and recorded during the major 1936-37 excavation. This provided the essential footprint for the 1938 restoration of the Ara Pacis and for all further study, as in the groundplans below. Drawings and prints in Moretti's 1948 landmark publication continue to provide some of the most informative drawings and diagrams.

TO ZOOM IN ON THE LARGE IMAGES, USE THE BUTTONS AT TOP-LEFT.

Tips for using this website

Pages:: « previous; 1; 2; next »

Fig. 28 "Ara Pacis groundplan".
An especially clear groundplan, including indications of corners and pilasters of the surrounding precinct wall.
The stairs leading up to the altar table are too wide in this diagram.

Scanned from Erika Simon, Augustus: Kunst und Leben in Rom um der Zeitenwende; Munich, 1986, fig.28. Courtesy Hirmer Verlag, München. Reproduced with appreciation.

Fig. 40 and 58 - "Author's drawing of the plan" "with dimensions taken in the field." Unlike most other published ground plans, the width of the stairs leading up to the altar table and of the two forms beside the stairs are correct in this drawing.

Scanned from Wayne Andersen, The Ara Pacis of Augustus and Mussolini: An Archaeological Mystery. Geneva and Boston: Èditions Fabriart, 2003. Courtesy author; reproduced with appreciation.

"Fig. 81 ... Ground plan including later (Hadrianic) precinct".
By 123 CE the lower portion of the Ara Pacis had been buried by the rising ground level and a brick wall had been built around the entire monument to protect it.

Scanned from Amanda Claridge, Rome, an Oxford Archaeological Guide, Oxford University Press, 2nd ed., 2008, p. 214; drawn by the author. Courtesy author; reproduced with appreciation.

"Fig. 99 - Architectonic structure of the altar (drawing G. Gatti)".
Guglielmo Gatti was Moretti's associate in the entire Ara Pacis project, a scholar and artist of great importance.

Scanned from Giuseppe Moretti, L'Ara Pacis Augustae; Rome, 2005 (ist ed. La Libreria dello State, 1948), vol.2, fig. 99. Courtesy of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Rome. Reproduced with appreciation.

"Plate 6 - Longitudinal section of the reconstructed monument".
Print by "Ennio Paoloni, Roma".

Scanned from Giuseppe Moretti, L'Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato S.p.A., 2005, 2 vols. (1st ed. La Libreria dello Stato, 1948). Courtesy of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Rome. Reproduced with appreciation.

"Plate 7 - Cross section of the reconstructed monument".
Print by "Ennio Paoloni, Roma".

Pages:: « previous; 1; 2; next »