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Propaganda and the Roman Art

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Propaganda is the activity of spreading ideas and information with the aim of influencing the public towards specific actions using a planned employment of persuasive methods. Art played a huge role in every propagandistic matter throughout history. Among the first rulers that made extensive use of Art as a form of propaganda were the Roman emperors. They were well known for their expertise in using portraits, reliefs and monuments to influence and manipulate public opinion. The strength of their artistic medium resulted from the fact that few people had the occasion to meet the emperor in real. Thus, the image that was circulating around the vast empire through coins, sculptures and buildings was a clever and powerful way to mold public opinion and flaunt the sovereign’s achievements.
The works produced for that purpose are innumerable and, according to the historical period, vary in details and representation. In the Early Empire, Augustus was only 32 years old when he defeated Antony and Cleopatra at Actium, ending a Roman Republic governed by elders for over 500 years. The primary task for the new emperor, who advertised himself as a son of a god (his father Caesar was designated the honor of god after his death), was to produce a youthful appearance. Throughout his entire reign, his image was molded to present a god-like general who luckily never aged. His portraits also carried a powerful, political message. In the portrait of Augustus as a general from Primaporta, he “wears a cuirass advertis[ing] an important diplomatic victory” (198). Additionally, the presence of a cupid at his feet is a reminder of his “divine descent” thanks to the Julians’ family relation with Venus. During his empire, Augustus brought peace to the Roman Empire after a long period of civil wars. His biggest achievement was accordingly celebrated by the creation of one of the most

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