Gemma Augustea relief
European politicians - "Fathers of Europe" - Emperor Augustus
August 19, 2014 marked the 2000th anniversary of the death of the famous, historically significant Emperor Augustus. One of the most impressive testimonies from the time of Emperor Augustus is the Gemma Augustea. A magnificent cameo depicting the scene of Augustus' coronation as emperor. Gaius Octavius was his birth name. He was adopted as an adult by his childless great uncle Gaius Iulius Caesar. The name "Caesar" is a title that all heirs to the throne and rulers of the time bore. His great uncle Gaius Iulius Caesar was insidiously murdered by infighting. In his will, he adopted Gaius Octavius and transferred all his private property to him.
Augustus, historically named and referred to as "Octavian," henceforth acted politically as avenger of his adoptive father's murder.
- Original in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
- Replica in original size 23x19 cm
- Massive 3 cm thick replica with hanger
- also suitable for painting
- genuine alabaster plaster, patinated
Honors and titles of the emperor Augustus
The Roman Senate awarded Octavian the honorary name Augustus, the Exalted. This was an act of worship. Octavian, Augustus the Exalted is the will of the gods. It is an equation with the founder of the city of Rome. This honorific name gave Octavian a sacred aura. Octavian already had the supreme political power in the state at that time. The virtues of a bearer of the honorary name Augustus were bravery, clemency, justice and duty to the fatherland and also to the gods.
After the death of one of his most important companions in battle and on his way, Augustus took over his office. As Pontifex Maximus - highest priest he regulated from now on the Roman state cult.
Octavian, Augustus was born on September 23, 63 BC. A renaming of the month Sextilis to Augustus was a tribute from the Roman Senate to Augustus. This name was chosen because Augustus had his greatest successes in the month of Sextilis. Furthermore, the month of July, long ago, was named after his murdered adoptive father Caesar.
Emperor Augustus was particularly proud of the honorary title ""Father of the Fatherland"", the title ""Pater Patriae"". Through this title, he possessed the same authority of a Roman family head over his family (pater familias). Only, this honor applied as the head of all members of the Roman Empire, all Romans and inhabitants.
The Gemma Augustea and the Coronation Gospels
Art historical experts appreciate this noble, fine stone relief as a contemporary witness of Emperor Augustus. The Gemma Augustea comes directly from the private property of Augustus. On the gemma or cameo, Augustus can be depicted as the god Jupiter. In divine, Jupiter-like image on the same level with the goddess Roma. A public, divine equality to the gods, Augustus has not made. Whereas he was aware of the divine worship of his person in the east of the empire, today Ankara in Turkey. He loved the divine worship of his person. The original in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna was held by Emperor Augustus himself, according to art historians.
The Gemma Augustea - self-portrait of Emperor Augustus
As a cultural model, the Romans had the Greek world of culture and gods. Emperor Augustus loved the self-portrayal of his person via coins, paintings, gems and cameos. The Gemma Augustea is the most important cameo in the world.
A gemstone or precious stone cut in depth is called a gem or cameo. In a cameo, the background of a picture motif is cut from the gemstone. The finished motif protrudes from the rest of the stone like a relief. The smallest form of this art is called a signet ring.
The original Gemma Augustea is made of two-layer Arabic sardonyx. In the original, the background appears dark, brownish or bronze. The precise, fine figures of the "stone painting" appear transparent bluish in the lower layer to white and shiny in the upper layer. The border of the original "Gemma Augustea" is golden.
The Gemma Augustea - the unused seal of Emperor Augustus
In certain cultural circles it was customary to seal objects, messages or written documents with a seal. This custom has its origin already in prehistory. The smallest known seal is a signet ring. A seal was also worn as a brooch or earring.
Engraved motifs in gemstones were used as scroll or stamp seals.
With better technology, gem artists were able to engrave more intricate motifs and images into a gemstone. During the lifetime of Emperor Augustus, workshops for the completion of seal gemmae were widespread. There were also mobile gem artists who traveled throughout the Roman Empire offering their art.
The seal mass, in which the stamp was pressed, consisted of beeswax, soft clay or even liquid lead.
There were many gems that were never used as seal marks. Because artistic, filigree designed gems were popular as collector's items. Especially valuable, unique gems were said to have a magical, divine power. The owner of such a gem would be protected from harm and misfortune. The Gemma Augustea was a lucky amulet, a good luck charm for Emperor Augustus. Therefore, this gem remained unused as a seal. This cameo is the second largest of its kind and the most important in the world.
This gem of Emperor Augustus is the original image in size, motif and filigree, finest stone drawings absolutely precisely reproduced. Let this work of art become your personal lucky charm and lucky amulet. Through the finest painting you create a contrast of the two-layered Arabian sardonyx. The background dark - bronze, the foreground bluish-watery to white-glossy. With a gold-colored border of the gem.
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