The so-called ‘Tellus’ relief from the Ara Pacis is my all time favourite relief. The details are mesmerising with so much layered symbolism built in from the infant twins to the vegetation.
The Augustan style often calls for abundance to be on full show and this relief captures that idea in spades.
A skilful and jaw-dropping relief not to be missed!
@BeebsyMcA@histodons@antiquidons Definitely deliberate and symbolic. It’s partly on account of all the variety that scholars continue to discuss who the central figure might be. Spaeth’s article is a great starting point to dive into this further: https://www.jstor.org/stable/506222
A youth holds a snake in their left hand and reaches towards another with their right. It’s not clear whether the snake to the right is biting the youth or the youth is holding the snake by the jaw…