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Secondary sourceSculpturec. 19 BCE or later

Augustus of Prima Porta

c. 19 BCE or later

A full-length marble portrait statue of Augustus as commander, found at his wife Livia's villa, showing him as both soldier and near-divine figure.

The best-known portrait statue of Augustus, blending realistic likeness with idealized, near-divine imagery of his rule.

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Marble statue of a standing man in armor, right arm raised pointing forward, with a draped cloak over his left arm. A small cupid-like figure with a dolphin stands beside his right leg. Plain dark grey background.
Augustus of Prima Porta, c. 19 BCE or later. Vatican Museums.

About this source

What it is

This marble statue portrays Augustus standing in military dress, carved in the 1st century AD, likely copying a lost bronze original. It was found in 1863 at the Villa of Livia, Augustus's wife, at Prima Porta, and is now in the Vatican Museums.

Why it matters

The statue mixes realism and idealism: Augustus's face looks youthful and lifelike, but his pose borrows from Greek statues of heroes, and his bare feet signal divine status. The breastplate shows a Parthian returning captured Roman standards, turning a diplomatic success into a symbol of peace achieved through Augustus's leadership. It may have been commissioned by Tiberius or Livia after Augustus's death to link the new emperor's legitimacy to his memory.

Look closer

  • Why show Augustus barefoot, and what does that suggest about how he wanted to be seen?
  • What story does the breastplate tell, and why choose that scene instead of a battle?
  • How does this image differ from what you know of Augustus as a real political ruler?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Augustus and Virgil on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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