Description of the Statue

The marble statue of Augustus at Prima Porta adopts features from a Greek athletic statue from fifth century B.C., the Doryphoros of Polykleitos; its head, facial construction, leg and overall pose. It was found in the villa of Livia in Prima Porta and was constructed to commemorate the Roman victory over the Parthians in 20 B.C. It gives the portrait of Augustus as a handsome and young ruler, wearing a decorated cuirass and a tunic, with the figure of Cupid riding a dolphin on his side.

Click on different parts of the statue to read in-depth descriptions.

 

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