Hi folks! As a bit of practice for the images essay, see what you find in these images. What ideas do these images suggest about how the Romans saw themselves, and what it meant to be Roman?

Something that catches the eye is Cato's stern and serious face. His face is intent and concentrated, which makes him look extremely committed to his duties and faith. This somehow suggests that he was not only a political figure but also a man of great moral convictions. The artist's purpose was to, likely, show Cato's personality as a stern sense of obligation, rigor, and fidelity to the Roman Republic. With the depiction of his revolt seriousness and possibly traditional Roman attire, the artist is perhaps highlighting Cato's likeness as a defender of Roman morals and judge of corruption.

What was notable was the way the figures are closely set together, their faces slightly tilting towards each other. There is a sense of togetherness and closeness in the way they stand, and the family connection is very evident. I was also impressed by the way serious and formal their faces look this gives the image a dignified, respectful atmosphere.

The artist seems to be emphasizing the strength and centrality of the family bond, even in death. This sarcophagus would have served as a reminder that family was at the center of Roman identity and values. By showing the family as a group, the artist may have been communicating that family bonds continue after life.

the one image that interested me the most was the one that Marcus Aurelius conducting an animal sacrifice. this shows me how important animals was to the romans because this is the second image that got to do with animals. also, in a way since they are sacrificing the animals it shows that the romans think they are above like basically Gods compared to everyone else so much so that they are not willing to sacrifice themselves.

The image of the young, unknown Roman caught my attention because there is no depiction of who this person is, where they came from, or to which family they belong. I noticed that the statues have withered, and some of the statue seems to have lost part of their arm. I also noticed that the young Roman wore the same kind of clothing that all Romans wore in ancient Rome, especially the young, as most images of Romans depict people wearing robes. I think that their clothing defines their family group. Does the image of the unknown Roman statue depict a certain family group?

The artwork depicts an animal being led to be sacrificed at an altar, with a young man leading the animal and a young boy standing behind the priest. The artist emphasizes the trust between men and boys in performing religious rituals, highlighting the importance of these rituals for the Ancient Romans. The event was attended in mass, and the soldier standing on the opposite end demonstrates the significance of the ritual. The giant bull, a holy animal, also adds to the significance of the ritual. The depiction of men and boys in this artwork highlights the trustworthiness of religious rituals.

The image of Marcus Aurelius conducting an animal sacrifice the Romans' religious values and their deep awareness of the relationship between state and religion are noteworthy. I would depict a ceremony which is to maintain relations with the gods and ensuring the well-being of the nation and the legitimacy of its leaders. For the Romans, religious practice was closely linked to everyday life, and the stability and prosperity of the state may have depended on a proper relationship with the gods. I am curious about the relationship between human and animals in Roma.

A detail that jumped out to me looking at the bust of Lucius, was his eyebrows. His eyebrows are furrowed and his eyes have a bit of a shadow to them which gives me the impression that he is angry. His mouth is a bit open which tells me that he is ready to argue with/fight who or what ever made him upset. I believe the artist was trying to tell the audience that Lucius was a serious, feared person. The impression I get from their work is that the last thing someone would want to do is make Lucius upset. I would like to find out if this bust was based on an actual moment and if it was, what caused Lucius to become angry? What happened to the person or thing that angered him?

As I look at the image of Marcus Porcius Cato, one detail that jumps out at me is the stern and resolute expression on his face. His posture is upright, and his clothing is simple, especially compared to other Roman figures who are often shown with more elaborate garments or symbols of wealth and power. This simplicity suggests a strong commitment to personal virtue and discipline.

I think the artist was trying to communicate Cato’s identity as a Stoic and a symbol of Roman integrity. He was known for opposing Julius Caesar and for standing firm in his moral beliefs, even to the point of death. The image likely emphasizes these traits to reflect how much Roman society valued duty, honor, and moral courage.

I’d like to find out more about how Stoic philosophy influenced Roman politics and personal behavior, especially among leaders like Cato. Did many Romans admire him at the time, or did his stubbornness make him unpopular? And how did his resistance to tyranny shape later Roman ideals?

This image is weird to me. Everybody is standing around watching an animal be prepared for sacrifice. I don’t know why they would need to sacrifice animals. Other than for food, killing an animal is evil in my opinion. It seems like this was a regular/normal occurrence at the time. I’m also curious how they even made these statues. That’s really cool. Who is Marcus Aurelius? And why did it have to be a Bull they were sacrificing?

The picture that stood out to me is the the picture that depicts an animal being led to sacrifice at an altar. It stood out to me because I noticed a young man is leading the animal to the altar where presumably the priest is. I also noticed the even younger boy behind the adult male priest. There is a lot of men and boys in this art depiction. I think the artist shows how much men/boys were trusted with religious ceremonies. It almost feels like leading the animal is a sort of right of passage for young men. The artist also shows how important religious rituals were to the Ancient Romans, it had to be conducted by the right people and many people attended these rituals. The soldier standing at the other end should also show you how important this event was. Lastly the giant bull tells us that bulls were viewed as sacred animals.

I would like to know if there any special ceremonies that were mostly women led? Was every major religious ceremony conducted in this way? I just want to get more insight about the other religious ceremonies held in Ancient Rome.

I picked the animal sacrifice picture as it was the one that stood out to me most. It intrigued me to see how the Romans chose to express themselves in such sculpture, hoping to be remembered that way forever. I see a group of scholars or men who had power in their lives who acted in their own benefit by sacrificing the animal to their deity of choice for that god's favor. Doing this to go through with their traditional rites to benefit their community. To me, this tells me that Romans are those who behave and do things that better their standing always, but still, all this is for their empire.

One detail that really jumps out at me is how serious and calm everyone looks during the sacrifice. Even though they are about to kill a bull, which would be messy and violent, the figures are composed, organized, and even solemn. It struck me because it shows how important and dignified this ritual was in Roman culture, not something casual or brutal. think the artist was trying to communicate the deep connection between Roman religion, politics, and leadership. I’d like to find out more about how often Roman emperors performed public sacrifices and how ordinary people viewed them. Did citizens really believe the emperor’s sacrifices protected the empire, or was it more about showing off power and legitimacy?