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The Golden Age
LWL-Römermuseum shows Art and Culture at the Time of Augustus
Haltern am See (lwl). Under Emperor Augustus the Roman Empire
2000 years ago was at the height of its power. The rise of Rome to a
power which dominated the whole Mediterranean area is shown by the
LWL-Römermuseum in Haltern am See in its new exhibition
“IMPERIUM” (16.5.-11.10.). The exhibition organised by the
Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) is part of the exhibition
project „IMPERIUM CONFLICT MYTH. 2000 Years Varus Battle“. It
spotlights Augustus’ political achievements and the cultural riches of his
“Golden Age”. The exhibition presents a picture of the man who was
defeated in the Battle in the Teutoburg Forest that does away with the
widespread image of Publius Quinctilius Varus as a failure.
The LWL is presenting some of the more than 300 world-class exhibits
in a series:
The Dawn of a New Era
In 31 BC Octavian is victorious over his rivals, Antonius and Cleopatra.
Four years later he assumes the honorific title of Augustus. His victory
ends an almost 100 year-long phase of Roman civil wars and he himself
proclaimed a new, a “Golden Age”. Values, apparently lost, such as
piety, decency and fidelity, industriousness and modesty are to shape
society again. People in Italy are to lead their lives in happiness and
peace.
Extracts from Horaz’ „Carmen
saeculare“.
© Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana,
Vatican City
Augustus proclaims the advent of a new epoch in 17 BC as a comet appears in the heavens.
Festivities lasting some days welcome the new age. The ruler has Horace compose a eulogy on
this occasion – the “Carmen saeculare” – in which the poet combines this time of fruitfulness
and plenty with the return of republican virtues.
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Maecena’s Circle
Like Virgil, Horace is amongst the most important Roman poets.
Both are supported financially by their patron, Maecenas, one of the
most important friends and allies of Augustus. Cremonensis,
Publius Qunictilius Varus’ uncle, is one of the young authors who
collect around Maecenas. Young Varus grew up in his uncle’s
household after the death of his father – this could have been of
advantage later is his career.
The toga statue of a young
man from Ostia.
Soprintendenza per i
Beni Archeologici di
Ostia,
Archivio Fotografico.
Photograph: Giulio
Sanguinetti
The statue of a young man in a toga from Ostia represents Varus in
his childhood in the exhibition „IMPERIUM“. It shows a young
Roman from a noble family – this is indicated by the toga and the
patrician shoes. As usual with young, free born Romans, he wears a
bulla, a pendant around his neck to protect him from harm during
his childhood, when he is most in need of protection. The capsa, the
cylindrical container for his book rolls, beside him, indicates his
education.
The Heyday of Fine Arts
The Augustan Golden Age is not
only the heyday of poetry and
prose – the fine arts flourished,
too. Artists reflect events on the political stage without
serving the interests of the ruler. The most varied intellectual and artistic directions develop. Especially
handicrafts flourish – here art and craftsmanship meet.
The uniformity of subjects and motifs contrasts with the
enormous variety of techniques and materials. On of the
gods most represented at this time is Apollo, the provider of
light, Augustus’ protector and at the same time god of the
fine arts.
Prominent amongst the arts and crafts of the Golden Age is
the art of metal working, toreutics. Complexly designed
metal vessels exemplify the special quality of this artistic
genre. The vessels, in many ways an expression of the way of
life of an elite, often show mythological subjects. Dionysian
motifs –
Bronze statue of Apollo from Pompeji
in the exhibition space on the “Golden
Age”. © Luciano Pedicini, Archivio
dell’Arte, Neapel. Virtual
Presentation: J. Hähnel
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Dionysos as the god of wine, of joy and fertility – decorate vessels designed for the consumption
of wine.
Artistic Freedom
Although Augustus did have a strong influence
on the artistic creations of his time, the poets and
artists do not only pick up ideas provided form
them by politics and work on them. Their works
contribute to the creation of a new Roman world
picture and new self-confidence. In general
agreement with the political will of the ruler, the
artists formulate the guiding principles of
Augustan renewal; they visualise these ideas, but
they also modify them.
Silver cup with Dionysian scenes.
© Museum Het Valkhof, Nijmegen
So-called Chryses-cup: Silver cup with mythological motifs.
Chryses was a priest of Apollo in Roman mythology.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Press Information
Ausstellung IMPERIUM
Seestadthalle
Lippspieker 25
45721 Haltern am See
Opening hours
Tuesday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission charges
Adults: 9 Euro
Families: 20 Euro
Students: 2 Euro
Reduced rate: 6 Euro
Groups with more than 16 persons: 7 Euro per person (plus charges for guided tour)
Press contacts: Frank Tafertshofer and Martin Holzhause,
Telephone: 0251 591-235, [email protected]
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