Augustus and the Prima Porta Statue: A Masterpiece of Imperial Propaganda

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the famous Augustus of Prima Porta statue, discovered in 1863 at Livia's villa. They discuss its iconography: the cuirass depicting the return of the Parthian standards in 20 BCE, the dolphin-riding Cupid linking Augustus to Venus, and the barefoot divine stance. The conversation examines how this marble statue, likely a copy of a bronze original, served as political propaganda, projecting Augustus as commander, peace-bringer, and descendant of gods. They also touch on the breastplate's imagery—including Tiberius, the goddess Tellus, and the Parthian king Phraates IV—and the statue's placement in Livia's suburban villa. The episode reveals how art reinforced Augustus's authority after decades of civil war. #AugustusOfPrimaPorta #PrimaPorta #RomanStatue #ImperialPropaganda #ParthianStandards #Cupid #Venus #Tiberius #PhraatesIV #Tellus #Cuirass #Livia #RomanArt #AugustanAge #History #FexingoHistory #AncientRome #RomanSculpture Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo