Organic Monuments: The Changing Landscapes of Augustan Rome
Date
2015-08-04
Authors
Endres, Alexandra
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Abstract
This thesis explores the manner in which the shrinking landscape of an early Imperial Rome led to an increased utilization of vegetal motifs in Roman art. Beginning in the late first century BCE, Augustus attempted to emphasize the natural world within the city by introducing actual green space through gardens, groves, and parks while also associating himself with various forms of arboreal mythology. Augustus compensated for the transient nature of these public gardens and groves by providing permanent monuments upon which the imagery of a verdant, prosperous earth could flourish, instilling within the viewer a sense of wonder and appreciation for the abundance brought forth by the emperor and the beginning of a new Golden Age in Rome.
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Keywords
Augustus, Gardens, Landscape, Green space, Ara Pacis, Rome