History: The frozen horses of the world. The oldest and largest

Further on the second floor near" Apartments Conservatives" there are three hallsCastellani(Castellani). The exhibits stored in three halls were donated to the museum by the famous jeweler and collector A. Castellani in 1867, who was then working as director of the Capitoline Museums. He took an active part in cultural life city ​​and tried to replenish museum collections at his own expense.

Currently, the halls of the Castellani contain about 700 exhibits,found in numerous necropolises of ancient Etruria, Lazio and Magna Graecia (VIII / IV centuries BC). Ceramics are stored in the showcases of the first two hallsmade of grayish-black clay - impasto and bucchero ceramics - a specific Etruscan look.

In the third room is Tensa Capitolina - a front chariot covered with bronze trim, which depicts scenes from the life of Achilles,

a statue of a seated ancestor found during excavations in Cerveteri, a bas-relief of a dog from the tomb of the Necropolis of Dogs (Tomba dei Cani) from Tolfa (6th century BC),

and many other unique exhibits.

In the halls Horti Lamiani exhibits found in the estate are storedRoman consul Lucius Elius Lamia. The gardens of the consul of the era of Tiberius were located on the Esquiline Hill of Rome (now - the square).

The manors of Rome were distinguished by magnificent forms and decoration. Pavilions, painted fountains, sculptures and temples were installed in the shade of trees. The sloping walls of the buildings were covered with gilded copper and precious stones.

Decorations of the Roman environment are depicted on the found frescoes of the estate of the consulLucia Elia Lamia (as, for example, found on some frescoes and Oplontis).

During the excavations of the estate in 1875, the archaeologist R. Lanchani found an underground tunnel 80 meters long, the floor of which was covered with a mosaic of high-quality mineral - calcite alabaster. Only part of the floor has survived to this day.

Other magnificent examples of those times have come down to us -Esquiline Venus and the rarest Bacchus torso- the god of wine and winemaking.

Torso of Bacchus

The portrait of Emperor Commodus in the image ofHercules. The cult of Hercules, the Greek Hercules, considered the patron of the Antonine dynasty, was especially widespread in Rome under Commodus, who called himself "the new Hercules." Commodus is depicted wearing a lion skin draped over his shoulders, the paws of which are tied in a knot on his chest. The head is covered with a lion's muzzle. In his right hand, Commodus holds a club placed on his shoulder, in his left - the apples of the Hesperides. The face, framed by a lush cap of hair and a short, curly beard, is reminiscent of portraits of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

“He had a proportional physique, but the expression on his face was dull, like that of drunkards, and his speech was disordered. His hair was always dyed and powdered with gold powder. He forced his hair and beard to be set on fire, as he was afraid of a razor” (Lampridius, Commodus, 17).

The stand is a ball - a symbol of the Universe - on which twocrossed cornucopias - a symbol of Fortune. Between them is a shield with a relief head of the Gorgon. On the sides of the ball were two figures of kneeling Amazons, of which only the left one survived. Hercules is kept in the museum, accompanied by two tritons

Centaur headthe time of the emperor Tiberius. (I century AD)

In the halls Horti Tauriani-Vettiani the finds found in the estate of Titus Statilius Taurus (consul AD 44), a politician of the era of the early Roman Empire, are exhibited. He was accusedin extortion and intercourse with magiciansAgrippina the Younger, wife of Emperor Claudius, who later appropriated the estate of Statilius Taurus. Later, the imperial property was broken up and transferredfreedmen of the emperor Claudius and then Nero (Epaphrodito e Pallante), and then in the 4th century AD. part of the estate became the residence of the Roman philosopherVettius Agora Pretextata. The pretext was one of the last politicians who supported the Roman religion of late Antiquity. Like his wife, he was especially devoted to the cult of Vesta. The pretextatus was friendly with many representatives of the Roman pagan aristocracy.

During the excavations, the following were found: a statue of a “Heifer”, possibly part of a sculptural group, and probably a Roman marble copy from an ancient Greek bronze original, by the sculptor Myron from Eleutherus. Myron depicted gods, heroes and animals, and with special love he reproduced difficult, fleeting poses. His most famous work, "Discobolus", an athlete intending to start a discus, is a statue that has come down to our time in several copies, of which the best is made of marble and is located in (palazzo Massimo) in Rome,

three reliefs; one depicting a sacred landscape and a sanctuary,

the other two represent two quadrigas opposite each other, Helios (Sun) and Selene (Moon).

Marble statue of a woman, probably a copy of the statue of Artemis by the sculptor Cephisodotes the Elder (IV BC).

goddess statue Hygieia(Igea I century AD). Hygieia was depicted as a young woman feeding a snake from a bowl. These attributes, the cup and the snake, have made up the modern symbol of medicine. It was Hygieia that gave the name to the medical discipline of hygiene.

In the halls Horti Maecenatis there are exhibits found during excavations in the estate of Gaia Cilnius Maecenas, an influential adviser and friend of Emperor Octavian Augustus. The patron was a passionate connoisseur of art. During excavations in his luxurious palace, many art treasures were found.

The most famous exhibits include: Hercules Winner(from the original of the 4th century BC) - was revered as a warlike god, "winner", "invincible",

head Amazons(from the original of the 5th century BC) - the image of a warrior woman and a warrior maiden,

statue Eros(from the original of the 4th century BC) - the deity of love in ancient Greek mythology, the inseparable companion and assistant of Aphrodite, the personification of love attraction, ensuring the continuation of life on Earth,

statue Marcia(from the original of the 2nd century AD) - in ancient Greek mythology, a satyr, a shepherd punished by Apollo for winning a match. Athena invented the flute, but abandoned it as an unusable instrument. Marsyas, however, picked up a flute and constantly practiced and brought the game to such perfection that he dared to challenge Apollo to a contest and won, and then Apollo hung Marsyas on a tall pine tree and tore off his skin.

And more ... A statue of a dog in green Egyptian marble in the Alexandrian style, some caryatids, a statue of the Muse Melpomene and a statue of a seated Muse, such as the Muse Calliope.

Caryatids

Statues of the Muses

horn-shaped fountain- a vessel, and the legend says that such a horn was "lost" in the bushes by the goat Amalthea, the nurse of Zeus himself. Enterprising nymphs picked up the good, wrapped it in leaves, filled it with fruits and brought it to Zeus. Zeus, who was deeply moved and even wept, returned the horn to the honest nymphs and promised that whatever they now wished would now come true to them directly from this horn.
A cornucopia in the form of a fountain was given to those who wished the glory of Zeus, the fountain of ideas, many children, longevity and simply peace of mind. The last (calm) comes while contemplating flowing water, murmuring that everything in this world should be treated with Olympian calm and optimism. Fountain from the time of August and signed by the author Pontios.

Relief of a dancing woman Maenads(Bacchante) - in ancient Greek mythology, the companion and admirer of Dionysus. By his name, the Romans - Bacchus, they were called Bacchantes,

Mosaic with the image Oresta And Iphigenia. History of Orestes was very popular in antiquity. She was told by such famous authors like Homer, Euripides, Aeschylus, Apollodorus, Hyginus, Sophocles, Pausanias, Servius.

Gallery degli Horti- this is a corridor that connects all the previous halls with exhibits found in different estates. In the corridor, among the numerous masterpieces of antiquity, you can see: two large marble vases (I century AD), one shows the marriage between Paris and Helen,

The second vase depicts the ritual of initiation into the cult of Dionysus.

At the end of the Galleria degli Horti, a new hall of the Capitoline Museums opens before museum visitors, called the Greek term "exedra", which refers to a deep niche ending in a semi-dome. The hall is covered by a large glass canopy, designed by the architect Carlo Aymomino, in the spirit of modern architecture and using the most advanced technologies. The hall was solemnly opened in 2005. The original equestrian statue (copy on) of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and other bronze masterpieces are kept here.

Statue of Marcus Aurelius was created in the 160-180s.
originally gilded equestrian statue Marcus Aurelius was installed on the slope of the Capitol opposite the Roman Forum. This is the only equestrian statue that has survived from antiquity, since in the Middle Ages it was believed that it depicts the emperor Constantine I the Great, whom the Christian church canonized as "Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles."
In the 12th century, the statue was moved to Lateran Square. In the 15th century, the Vatican librarian Bartolomeo Platina compared the images on the coins and recognized the identity of the rider. In 1538, she was placed on the Capitol by order of Pope Paul III. The plinth for the statue was made by Michelangelo from a column of the temple of Castor and Pollux; and here he is riding a horse, the prototype of all bronze riders who since that time spur their horses in the streets and squares of the world.
The statue is only twice the life size. Marcus Aurelius is depicted wearing a soldier's cloak over a tunic. Under the raised hoof of the horse there used to be a sculpture of a bound barbarian.

In Exedra, which took the place of the so-called Roman Garden, other exhibits are also kept. Gilded bronze statue of Hercules (II century BC) - found on. The sculpture is 241 cm high.Hercules holds a club in his right hand, and three apples of the Hesperides in his left.

Fragments of the bronze colossus of Emperor Constantine (4th century AD) - head, part of the arm and leg. The statue was originally in a standing position and reached 12 m in height. Head height 177 cm, arms 150 cm.

Sculpture Lion biting a horse from the Hellenic era, was restored and supplemented during the Renaissance, by a student of Michelangelo -Ruggero Bascape. The horses added - head, tail and legs, and the lion - hind legs.

At the end of the Esedra, you can see the foundation Temple of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva(of the Capitoline Triad).

Construction began during the reign of King Lucius Tarquinius Priscus on the site of the ancient sanctuary of the Sabines, and in 509 BC the Capitoline Temple (Temple of Jupiter) was consecrated. Several times the attraction has experienced the destructive power of natural elements. For example, the fire of 82 BC, when the temple was burned to the ground along with all the rich decoration. The building was reconstructed on the orders of the then ruling Lucius Cornelius Sulla, for which they even brought several Greek columns from the Temple of Zeus in Athens.

The Capitoline temple was divided into 3 limits, the middle one was dedicated to Jupiter, where his statue stood on a throne made of gold and ivory, he was dressed in a tunic decorated with palm branches and a purple toga embroidered with gold. The limit on the right was dedicated to Minerva, and on the left - to Juno, each deity had its own altar. The roof was decorated with a terracotta (later bronze) sculpture of Jupiter on a quadriga.

The Capitoline Temple was the religious center of republican and imperial Rome, and was also of great importance in strengthening the Roman state. The senate gathered in it, the masters made sacrifices, and the archive was located there. The temple was for the Romans a symbol of the power, strength and immortality of Rome.

Temple of Jupiter in the archaic era

Near the foundation of the temple of Jupiter, you can see exhibits found in the archaeological area at the foot of the Capitol - Sant'Omobono. The Temple of Jupiter was not the only sanctuary built in Rome. In 1964, during the excavation of the site around the church of Sant'Omobono in the very center of Rome, the remains of the temple were discovered Fortune And Mater Matuta. Ancient authors talked about the temples of these two goddesses. Excavations have shown that in ancient times there was a single temple building, resting on one podium, but with two cells for each of the related goddesses.

Reconstruction of the pediment of the temple

The pediment of the temple was decorated with figures of two sitting animals (lions or panthers), facing each other with their muzzles. Their heads occupied the upper part of the triangle, the back of the body and tails were located in the right and left corners. The same figures of animals facing each other are typical for images on Etruscan tombs.

In the temple of Fortuna and Mater Matuta, an ivory figurine of a lion with an inscription on Etruscan. This is the most interesting of the Etruscan texts found in archaic Rome.

In two halls dei Fasti Moderni(modern fast inscriptions), exhibited on the walls for storage of fast inscriptions carved in stone, containing a list of Roman masters from 1640-1870.

In addition to fast inscriptions, other exhibits are stored in the halls. Two statues of athletes (from the originals of the 4th century BC), found during excavations in Velletri.

Marble sarcophagus found in Vicovaro, surmounted by sculptures of a married couple, decorated with bas-reliefs depicting hunting the greatest hunter all times Meleager. The carved tomb testifies to the enviable financial position of the customers.

The last hall of this floor, located next to front staircase, dedicated Middle Ages. The Capitoline Archives were kept in this room in the sixteenth century. Now, exhibits of the Middle Ages are exhibited.

Among them is a marble seated statue of Charles of Anjou, King of Sicily and Senator of Rome in the 13th century, possibly sculpted by the master Arnolfo di Cambio, who lived in Rome until 1277, and later became famous as an outstanding architect and sculptor in Florence. The statue of Charles of Anjou was clearly created under the influence of ancient sculptural images of Roman emperors.

Another important exhibit of the medieval hall is a tabletop decorated with bas-reliefs depicting the main events from the life of Ahkhil (4th century) and cosmatesque mosaics, the work of the brothers Jacopo and Lorenzo di Tebaldo (13th century).

The Marcus Aurelius Column is a unique sculptural column erected in honor of the victory of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the Marcomannic War. This work of stucco and sculptural art in the very center of Rome, on the square of the same name. According to the architectural type, it is a Doric column with a spiral relief, which was erected on the basis of the ancient Trajan's column.

The erection of the column of Marcus Aurelius

Since the original dedicatory inscription was destroyed and lost, it is still unknown whether the column was built during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (on the occasion of a military triumph in 176) or after his death in 180. Later, an inscription supposedly lost earlier was found in the vicinity, which indicates that the construction of the column was completed by 193.

From the point of view of the topography of ancient Rome, the column stood in the northern part of the city (Campus Martius), in the very center of the square. This area was located between the temple of Hadrian and the temple of Marcus Aurelius, built by his son Commodus and now completely destroyed. Not far from the sculptural column of Marcus Aurelius is the place where the cremation of the emperor took place.

The height of the column is 29.6 m, which strikes the imagination of even the most sophisticated viewer. At the same time, the height of the pedestal exceeds 10 meters. Initially, the architects created the monument, the total height of which was almost 42 meters, but in the course of further restoration, it was decided that it was necessary to reduce the height of the column by 3 meters, by immersing part of the monument underground. The base of the column is made of natural marble blocks, which are stacked in such a way that a cavity remains inside.

Photo:

In this cavity there is a high spiral staircase of 200 steps leading to the very top of the monument. There, the sculpture of the emperor Marcus Aurelius himself was originally located. From complete darkness, the stairs are saved by small gaps between the marble blocks, which provide a weak penetration of natural sunlight.

Stucco spiral relief

The fact that such a significant and magnificent monument was dedicated to Marcus Aurelius only confirms the contribution that this emperor made to the development of society and the state during his reign. The history of his rise and reign runs parallel with the life of his co-ruler Lucius Verus. According to historical evidence describing those times, the two rulers of the Roman Empire were absolute opposites and antagonists to each other. Both of them were well educated, but lived in accordance with two opposing philosophies - Stoicism and Epicureanism.

Marcus Aurelius was a staunch representative of Stoicism and in his reign paid great attention to domestic politics, the adoption of correct and useful laws for society, as well as the improvement of the judicial system and social security of the population. The Romans loved and revered Marcus Aurelius as a wise and just ruler. Throughout his reign, the emperor was surrounded by highly educated and decent advisers, who also devoted a lot of time to working with the senate.

His co-ruler Lucius Ver was completely absorbed in another philosophy - Epicureanism. He devoted his whole life to pleasures and pleasures that cost the treasury fabulous money. Lucius Ver was a regular and patron theatrical performances, gladiatorial fights and numerous feasts. A description of a luxurious feast for 12 people has survived to this day, which cost the state treasury a huge amount - 6 million sesterces. During the feast, each guest of Lucius Verus was assigned personal slaves who fulfilled any whims of the owner. All the meat on the table was obtained from the slaughter of animals directly during the feast. The dishes made of precious metals were not served to the table a second time, and the golden glasses were changed immediately after the guest drank from them. At the end of the feast, each guest received a servant and a luxurious silver carriage as a gift.

Photo:

Based on the historical significance of Marcus Aurelius, against the backdrop of the idle lifestyle of his co-ruler, the fact that a magnificent column was dedicated to him and his exploits seems completely logical and understandable.

The uniqueness and artistic value of the column lies in the magnificent stucco relief of the spiral type, which adorns the trunk of the monument. The relief of the spiral painting tells the story of Marcus Aurelius's Danubian and Marcomannic wars from 166 until his death. The story depicted in the relief begins with a sculptural picture of the mighty and numerous army of the Roman emperor crossing the Danube River, probably at Carnuntum. This moment is considered a turning point and inspiring the emperor for future exploits.

The further plot of the relief and the chronology of events are still disputed by historians and art critics. The last and most probable theory is that the expeditions against Marcomanni and Quadi in 172 and 173 are in the lower half of the relief of the column, while the successes of the emperor in the wars with the Sarmatians in the period from 174 to 175 are displayed in the upper half of the monument.

The most important and key episode in the plot of the column was an event widely publicized in the Roman religious environment and called the “miracle of rain”. According to legend, the most difficult moment in the military campaign of Marcus Aurelius was the fight against the tongues and quads. The events of this war became the main plot of the stucco relief of the column. Military clashes with the tongues took place in a fierce winter, during which the Danube was completely covered with ice. The battles took place on the ice of the river, and the armies of Marcus Aurelius were defeated only by laying out shields on the ice and stepping on a tree so as not to slip. As a result, most of the Iazyge army was killed on the battlefield, and the survivors were forced to flee far from the Danube.

The victory in this difficult battle inspired Marcus Aurelius so much that he decided to go further and conquer the lands of the Quads. The main battles with the quads took place during an abnormally hot summer, during which there was not a drop of precipitation. Despite the fact that the military forces of the Quadi were much smaller than the army of Marcus Aurelius in numbers, they managed to trap and surround the Romans, thereby cutting off access to drinking water. Abnormal heat and arid climate, exhausted the Romans and robbed them of all their strength. A huge powerful army led by Marcus Aurelius was on the verge of death. At that moment, a miracle occurred, which is recognized and sung by several religions.

Photo:

In his letter, Marcus Aurelius describes the miracle of rain as a salvation sent to the Romans by heaven. When the hope of getting water was almost gone, and the soldiers were severely dehydrated and exhausted by the heat, Marcus Aurelius organized a mass prayer, in which the entire Twelfth Legion took part. During this prayer, a torrential downpour began, which Christians around the world consider the miracle of rain. This rain saved the army from destruction and served as the basis for a crushing victory over the Quads. Except Christian religion, the pagans also describe the miracle of rain. However, according to their version, the rain was not caused by the prayer of the soldiers of the Twelfth Legion, but by an Egyptian sorcerer who accompanied Marcus Aurelius on military campaigns. IN sculptural composition columns of Marcus Aurelius, one of the main roles is dedicated to the “miracle of rain”, which demonstrates a special attitude to this historical event.

Despite some similarities with Trajan's Column, architectural style the columns of Marcus Aurelius are completely different. Elements of the previous dramatic style of the 3rd century, in which the famous Triumphal Arch Septimius Severus, installed shortly after the erection of the column of Marcus Aurelius. The heads of the figures are disproportionately large compared to the bodies so that the viewer can better interpret the facial expressions of the warriors.

The original stucco model of the relief was subsequently carved out of stone in such a way that the depth of the individual elements varied. This provides a special play of light and shadows, which creates the most realistic and dynamic picture battles and scenes of violence. When villages are burned, women and children are captured, men are killed, the emotions, desperation and suffering of the "barbarians" in the war are presented sharply in single scenes, in facial expressions and gestures. At the same time, the emperor is presented as the protagonist, maintaining calm and equanimity.

The symbolic language is clearer and more expressive than the seemingly clumsy aesthetic of the Trojan Column, and leaves the viewer with a completely different impression of artistic style. There's a cool and sober balance - here, drama and empathy. The pictorial language is unambiguous - it emphasizes the imperial dominance and authority of the leader and commander in chief.

Monument today

In the Middle Ages, column climbing became so popular that the right to charge an entrance fee was sold at auction every year. Today it is impossible to climb the stairs inside the column. Now the column serves as a central element in the square in front of the Palazzo Chigi. In 1589, by order of Pope Sixtus V, the entire column was restored under the direction of Domenico Fontana and adapted to the ground level of that time. Also on the upper platform was a bronze statue of St. Paul the Apostle, similar to the statue of St. Peter on Trajan's Column. Originally, on the upper platform, there was probably a statue of Marcus Aurelius, which XVI century was lost.

Today, the Marcus Aurelius Column is one of the main symbols of Rome and the historical legacy of the greatest empire of all time.

An equestrian statue of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius has survived only through a mistake. This is the only ancient bronze equestrian monument that has come down to us. Such statues in Ancient Rome there were many, but they were all melted down in the Middle Ages, with the exception of this one, which was considered an image of Emperor Constantine the Great, revered by Christians:

The gilded bronze monument stood for a long time in front of the Pope's residence, the Lateran Palace. In the 16th century, Michelangelo placed it in the center of the Capitoline Square:

In recent years, after restoration, Marcus Aurelius is under the roof of the new hall of the Capitoline Museums. There is now a copy on the square: http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/janet1 981/view/66746/?page=4
It was made using the latest technologies, but, nevertheless, the difference between the original and the copy is colossal. The ancient monument is alive:

The equestrian monument is a monument to the commander. The rider's gesture is addressed to the army. Marcus Aurelius really had to fight a lot in his lifetime with the Parthians, barbarian tribes, but descendants remember him not as a commander, but as a philosopher on the throne. The emperor managed to repel the attacks of enemies and pacify the rebels, but he did not value military glory highly. Marcus Aurelius was one of the most educated people of his time. He devoted all his free time from state concerns to the study of philosophy. We have a book of his thoughts. In it we read: “Look, do not be caesarized, do not be soaked in porphyry - it happens. Keep yourself simple, worthy, uncorrupted, strict, upright, a friend of justice, pious, benevolent, affable, strong for every proper work. Enter the struggle to remain the way the teaching you have accepted wants you to be. Honor the gods, save the people. Life is short; one fruit of earthly existence is a righteous mental warehouse and deeds for the common good.
Marcus Aurelius was born in 121. In 138 he was adopted by Antoninus Pius, from whom he inherited power in 161. The co-ruler of Marcus Aurelius was Lucius Ver, who died in 169. Marcus Aurelius died during a military campaign in 180.

The emperor's horse is magnificent! Winckelmann, the author of the first "History of the Art of Antiquity", believed that "more beautiful and smarter than the head of the horse of Marcus Aurelius cannot be found in nature":

After 13 centuries, this monument served as a model for the sculptors of the Renaissance. When Donatello created an equestrian monument to the condottiere Gattamelata for Padua, he recalled Marcus Aurelius, seen in Rome. And after Donatello, sculptors will turn to this monument for another five centuries.

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius

On the Capitoline Square there is a monument to Marcus Aurelius - the only surviving ancient bronze equestrian statue. The statue survived only because it was considered the image of Emperor Constantine the Great, who patronized Christians and was always deeply revered by them.

Mark Annius Catilius Severus, who went down in history under the name of Marcus Aurelius, was born in Rome on April 26, 121. In 139, he was adopted by Emperor Antoninus Pius, then he became known as Marc Elius Aurelius Ver Caesar. Subsequently, as the emperor wore legal name Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (or Marcus Antoninus Augustus).

Aurelius received an excellent education. From the age of twelve he began a serious study of philosophy and was engaged in it all his life. After his death, a philosophical work written by him in Greek "To himself" remained. Thanks to this work, Aurelius went down in history as an emperor-philosopher. From childhood, Mark learned the principles of stoic philosophy and was a model of a stoic: he was a moral, modest person and was distinguished by exceptional stamina in enduring the vicissitudes of life.

"From the very young years he had such a calm character that neither joy nor sorrow was reflected in the expression of his face. In his essay “To Yourself” there are these words: “Always zealously take care that the business in which you this moment busy, to perform as worthy of a Roman and a husband, with full and sincere cordiality, with love for people, with freedom and justice; and also about putting aside all other ideas. You will succeed if you perform every task as if it were the last in your life, free from all recklessness, from disregard for the dictates of reason due to passions, from hypocrisy and dissatisfaction with your fate. You see how few are the requirements by which anyone can live a blissful and divine life. And the gods themselves will not demand anything more from the one who fulfills these requirements.

Time human life- moment; its essence is an eternal flow; sensation is vague; the structure of the whole body is perishable; the soul is unstable; fate is mysterious; fame is unreliable. In a word, everything pertaining to the body is like a stream, pertaining to the soul is like a dream and smoke. Life is a struggle and a journey through a foreign land; posthumous glory - oblivion.

Do not act either against your will, or contrary to the common good, or as a reckless person or succumbing to the influence of some passion, do not clothe your thought in magnificent forms, do not get carried away either by verbosity or busywork ... "

Antoninus Pius introduced Marcus Aurelius to the government in 146, giving him the power of tribune of the people. In addition to Marcus Aurelius, Antoninus Pius also adopted Lucius Verus, so that after his death, power passed immediately to two emperors, whose joint reign continued until the death of Lucius Verus in 169. But during the period of their joint reign, the decisive word always belonged to Marcus Aurelius.

The reign of the Antonine dynasty was perhaps the most prosperous in the history of the Roman Empire, when not only the city of Rome, but also the provinces enjoyed the benefits of peacetime and experienced an economic boom, and the doors of Rome opened wide for the provincials. Aelius Aristides, addressing the Romans, wrote: “Under you, everything is open to everyone. Anyone who is worthy of public office or public trust ceases to be considered a foreigner. The name of a Roman ceased to belong only to the city of Rome, but became the property of all civilized mankind. You have established such a management of the world as if it were a single family.

Nowadays, all cities compete with each other in beauty and attractiveness. Everywhere there are many squares, water pipes, solemn portals, temples, craft workshops and schools. Cities shine with splendor and beauty, and the whole earth blossoms like a garden.”

Ancient historians speak of Marcus Aurelius as follows: “From all other inclinations, Marcus Aurelius was distracted by philosophical studies, which made him serious and concentrated. From this, however, his friendliness did not disappear, which he showed, first of all, in relation to his relatives, then to friends, as well as to less familiar people. He was honest without inflexibility, modest without weakness, serious without sullenness”, “He addressed the people as it was customary in a free state. He showed exceptional tact in all cases when it was necessary either to keep people from evil, or to induce them to do good, richly reward some, justify, showing condescension, others. He did bad people good, and good - excellent, calmly enduring even the ridicule of some. He never showed partiality in favor of the imperial treasury when he acted as a judge in such cases, which could bring benefits to the latter. Distinguished by firmness, he was at the same time conscientious.

However, the lot of the Romans during the reign of Marcus Aurelius fell to many disasters. Life forced the emperor-philosopher to become a brave warrior and prudent ruler.

In 162, the Romans had to launch military operations against the Parthian troops, who invaded Armenia and Syria. In 163, Rome defeated Armenia, and in next year over Parthia. But neither Armenia nor Parthia were turned into Roman provinces and retained their de facto independence.

The victory of the Romans was largely brought to naught by the fact that in 165 a plague broke out in the Roman troops stationed in the East. The epidemic spread to Asia Minor, to Egypt, and then to Italy and the Rhine. In 167, a plague took over Rome.

In the same year, powerful Germanic tribes of the Marcomanni and Quadi, as well as the Sarmatians, invaded the Roman possessions on the Danube. The war with the Germans and Sarmatians had not yet ended, when unrest began in Northern Egypt.

After the suppression of the uprising in Egypt and after the end of the war with the Germans and Sarmatians in 175, the governor of Syria, Avid Cassius, an outstanding commander, proclaimed himself emperor, and Marcus Aurelius was in danger of losing power. Ancient historians write about this event as follows: “Avidius Cassius, who in the East proclaimed himself emperor, was killed by soldiers against the will of Marcus Aurelius and without his knowledge. Upon learning of the uprising, Marcus Aurelius was not very angry and did not apply any harsh measures to the children and relatives of Avidius Cassius. The Senate declared him an enemy and confiscated his property. Marcus Aurelius did not want it to enter the imperial treasury, and therefore, at the direction of the senate, it passed into the state treasury. Marcus Aurelius did not order, but only allowed Avidius Cassius to be killed, so that it was clear to everyone that he would have spared him if it depended on him.

In 177, Rome fought the Mauritanians and won. In 178, the Marcomanni and other tribes again moved into the Roman possessions. Marcus Aurelius, together with his son Commodus, led the campaign against the Germans, and he managed to achieve great success, but the plague began again in the Roman troops.

In the portraits, Marcus Aurelius appears as a man living inner life. Everything that arose already under Hadrian is brought to the last line in him. Even those sleekness and external gloss that connected Adrian with the external environment are disappearing. The hair is even thicker and fluffier, the beard is even longer, the chiaroscuro in strands and curls is crushed even brighter. The relief of the face is even more developed, with deep wrinkles and folds. And even more expressive look, conveyed by a very special technique: the pupils are drilled and raised to heavy, half-closed eyelids. The look is the most important thing in a portrait. This A New Look- quiet, withdrawn into himself, detached from earthly fuss.

From the honorary monuments of Marcus Aurelius, a triumphal column in honor of the German and Sarmatian campaigns and an equestrian statue have been preserved. The triumphal column was built in 176-193 on the model of Trajan's column. The column of Marcus Aurelius is made up of thirty marble blocks with a sculptural relief that rises in a spiral and unfolds before the viewer pictures of battles with the Sarmatians and Marcomanni. At the top stood a bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius, which was later replaced by a statue of St. Paul. Inside the column, a staircase of 203 steps is illuminated by 56 light holes. The square, in the center of which stands the column of Marcus Aurelius, is succinctly called Piazza Colonna.

The monumental bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius was created around 170. In the 16th century, after a long break, the statue was again installed according to the design of Michelangelo in Capitoline Square in Rome on a pedestal of strict form. It is designed to be considered different points vision, impressing with the splendor of plastic forms. Having lived his life on campaigns, Marcus Aurelius is depicted in a toga - the clothes of a Roman, without imperial distinctions. The image of the emperor is the embodiment of the civic ideal and humanity. The concentrated face of the Stoic is full of consciousness of moral duty, peace of mind. With a wide pacifying gesture, he addresses the people. This is the image of a philosopher, the author of "Reflections in private", indifferent to fame and fortune. The folds of his clothes merge him with the mighty body of a magnificently molded slow-moving horse. The movement of the horse, as it were, echoes the movement of the rider, complementing his image. “More beautiful and smarter than the head of the horse of Marcus Aurelius,” wrote the German historian Winckelmann, “cannot be found in nature.”

From the book Big Soviet Encyclopedia(PE) author TSB

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (SF) of the author TSB

Sphinx (statue) Sphinx (Greek Sph?nx), 1) in Ancient Egypt- a statue depicting fantasy creature(guardian spirit, the embodiment of royal power) with the body of a lion and the head of a person (usually a portrait of a pharaoh) or a sacred animal. The largest surviving S. - so

From the book Great Soviet Encyclopedia (ST) of the author TSB

From the book 100 Great Wonders of the World author Ionina Nadezhda

92. The Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty, the Greatest Woman in the World, stands at the entrance to New York Harbor and has been welcoming everyone to New York for over a century. At the same time, it reminds everyone of the ideals upon which an entire nation was built. held high in her hand

From the book Petersburg in street names. The origin of the names of streets and avenues, rivers and canals, bridges and islands author Erofeev Alexey

95. Statue of the Savior in Rio de Janeiro Statue of the Savior in Rio de Janeiro God created the world in six days. And on the seventh day, he created Rio de Janeiro, ”the Brazilians joke like that, referring to the truly fabulous location and beauty of their city. Until 1960 when it was built

From the book of 100 great monuments author Samin Dmitry

HORSE STREET This street goes from the junction of Bakunin Avenue and Poltavskaya Street to Ispolkomskaya Street. For a long time between the future street and Nevsky Prospekt, the vast Aleksandrovskaya Horse Square stretched, on which the horse trading was located. Alexandrovskaya she

author Agalakova Zhanna Leonidovna

Statue of Zeus (440-430 BC) Lucian recounts the story of how Phidias worked on his own famous work: “And do not be embarrassed by the fact that you will rework an essay that has already become known to the reader because even Phidias is said to have acted

From the book Everything I Know About Paris author Agalakova Zhanna Leonidovna

Statue of Shivalingamutri (2nd century BC) According to Brahminism and Hinduism, which have been the dominant ideologies of India for thousands of years and the most important elements of its spiritual culture, art should express in the image of a deity not the ideals of beauty (as in ancient

From the book Legendary streets of St. Petersburg author Erofeev Alexey Dmitrievich

Statue of Augustus (I century BC) Gaius Octavius ​​was born on September 23, 63 BC in Rome. He lost his father early, and his relationship with Julius Caesar played a decisive role in his life. Octavius ​​was the grandson of Caesar's sister. Octavius ​​received a good upbringing. His mother, Atia, was very attentive to

From the book Here Was Rome. Modern walking tours ancient city author Sonkin Viktor Valentinovich

Statue of Voltaire (1781) About the statue of Voltaire, made by Houdon, a master whose work belongs to the second half of the 18th century, Rodin said: “What a wonderful thing! This is a real laugh! Slightly squinting eyes seem to lie in wait for the enemy. Sharp as a fox

From book Big Dictionary quotes and catchphrases author Dushenko Konstantin Vasilievich

Equestrian statue of Friedrich Wilhelm (1796) C late XVII century, along with Bavaria and Saxony, a major cultural center becomes Prussia. The most gifted of the masters in the service of the Prussian kings was the sculptor and architect Andreas Schlüter. His name was surrounded

From the author's book

Statue of Liberty Yes, Paris has its own Statue of Liberty! Author of the New York french sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, while working on the monument, made several “sketch” options in plaster. A bronze copy was cast from one of them. It was installed in Paris on Lebedin

From the author's book

From the author's book

Horse street This street goes from Poltava to Ispolkomskaya street. For a long time, between the future street and Nevsky Prospekt, the vast Aleksandrovskaya Horse Square stretched, on which the horse market was located. She became Alexandrovskaya because of her proximity to

From the author's book

Column of Marcus Aurelius The area of ​​Rome, including Piazza Capranica, the square with the obelisk of Augustus and the Palazzo Fiano, where the Altar of Peace was found, is called the "Column". It got its name in honor of the column that stands on Piazza Colonna. It's a triumphal monument

From the author's book

From Mark the holy gospel (Gospel according to Mark) 761 Stronger than me, Whom I am not worthy of, is coming after me, bending down to untie the strap of His shoes. Mk. 1:7 (John the Baptist about Jesus); See also: In. 1:27 762 The Sabbath is for man, not man for the Sabbath. Mk. 2:27 in the Talmud.

Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius

Statue of Marcus Aurelius- a bronze ancient Roman statue, which is located in Rome in the Palazzo Nuovo of the Capitoline Museums. It was created in the 160-180s.

Originally a gilded equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius was installed on the slope of the Capitol opposite the Roman Forum. This is the only equestrian statue that has survived from antiquity, since in the Middle Ages it was believed that it depicts Emperor Constantine I the Great, whom the Christian church canonized as "Saint Equal to the Apostles."

In the 12th century, the statue was moved to the Lateran Square. In the 15th century, the Vatican librarian Bartolomeo Platina compared the images on the coins and recognized the identity of the rider. In 1538, she was placed on the Capitol by order of Pope Paul III. The plinth for the statue was made by Michelangelo; it says: "ex humiliore loco in area capitoliam".

The statue is only twice the life size. Marcus Aurelius is depicted in a soldier's cloak (lat. paludamentum) over a tunic. Under the raised hoof of the horse there used to be a sculpture of a bound barbarian.

Literature

• Siebler M. Romesche Kunst. - Köln: Taschen GmbH, 2005. - P. 72. - ISBN 978-3-8228-5451-8

see also

Links

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

See what the "Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius" is in other dictionaries:

A monument depicting the honored person as a rider. Such statues, as a rule, are dedicated to rulers and commanders. In a standing position, politicians and artists are most often depicted, occasionally they can also be found in a sitting ... ... Wikipedia

ANCIENT ROME- Roman Forum The Roman Forum is an ancient civilization in Italy and the Mediterranean, centered in Rome. It was based on the urban community (lat. civitas) of Rome, which gradually extended its power, and then its right to the entire Mediterranean. Being… … Orthodox Encyclopedia

Capital of Italy. The city is located on the river. Tiber, ancient name which Rumo or Rumon served as the basis for the formation of the name Rome (Italian Roma). It is assumed that the name of the river is associated with the name of one of the ancient Etruscan tribes ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

Wikipedia has articles about other people with the name Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus lat. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ... Wikipedia

See Aurelius. * * * MARC AURELIUS MARC AURELIUS Antoninus (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus) (April 26, 121, Rome March 17, 180, Sirmium, Lower Pannonia), Roman emperor from 161 from the Antonin dynasty, a representative of late Stoicism (see STOICISM), author ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Bust from the Munich Glyptothek Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (lat. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus) (April 26, 121, Rome March 17, 180, Vindobona, now Vienna) Roman emperor from the Antonin dynasty. Philosopher, representative of late Stoicism, follower ... ... Wikipedia

Bust from the Munich Glyptothek Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (lat. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus) (April 26, 121, Rome March 17, 180, Vindobona, now Vienna) Roman emperor from the Antonin dynasty. Philosopher, representative of late Stoicism, follower ... ... Wikipedia

Capitoline Square embodies the urban ideals of Michelangelo (engraving by Etienne du Perac, 1568) ... Wikipedia

The Capitoline Square embodies Michelangelo's urban planning ideals (engraving by Etienne du Perac, 1568). Big hall New Palace. Capitoline Museums (Italian Musei Capitolini) ... Wikipedia