One aspect of Lucius Cornelius Sulla's bust that instantly catches the eye is the sharp distinction between his old, deeply lined face and the marble's smooth surface, which conveys a feeling of experience and tiredness. Sulla's reputation as a seasoned leader who survived the political and military instability of his era appears to be highlighted by the artist. His look and wrinkles are carefully given, indicating an attempt to capture not just his physical image but also the gravity of his character. I'd like to know more about how Sulla's legacy as a problematic character was mirrored in his artistic representations. Was the goal of this reality to inspire terror, respect, or a more complex understanding of his authority?

Within the family group amongst the sarcophogai, the details that particularlly jump at to me or the stoic faces and the factor that their hands are raised to their chest (2 have their left hand raised, while the last is holding their right hand with a scroll.) I wonder why did they all have to do so? Was it a tribute to Rome of some sort? Were they a part of the paterfamilias or amongst the senate? Truly anything could be stated about the bust of the sarcophogai since we do not have a story to follow, but I believe the artist was trying to communicate the factor of how important family was in the times of Ancient Rome. How the paterfamilias had a say within public outstandings as the matron dealt with the future and private sections of the family or the household. Or even the means of how they even intertwined themselves with the best interest of Rome due to the interactions of importance and the matter of controlling the means of priesthood.

The image that stuck out to me was Rome-An animal being led to sacrifice at an altar, I chose this image because the expressions that are detailed on the image were very clear and held a sense of how serious the situation was. Not only was the facial expressions on the men clear but also the depiction of the sacrifice was clear as to get a handle of the situation and what was going on. Also each person shown in the image has a different emotion that they’re showing about how they feel towards the sacrifice. One person looks worried while another looks very serious but overall it is very detailed and centered. This suggests that the Romans took art very seriously and were very skilled in depicting different events. It also suggests that Romans took sacrifices serious enough to make a record of it.

Looking at these images, the one detail that jumps out at me the most is these sculpture’s facial expressions. They all seem to have this very serious look on their face, almost authoritative. It’s as if they are scolding you.

By this very specific detail, I think the author was trying to demonstrate Rome’s authoritative mindset. During this time, they were the strongest empire in the Mediterranean. The looks on these statues is almost like that of a parent. Rome knew of it’s power over these other civilizations, so much so that you could even see it on their face. They had the power to tell you what to do and would punish you if you did not do it.

What I would like to know more about are the other common themes Roman art. These sculptures all seem to be political. I want to know if they ever did art for anything other than this.

The detail that jumps out at me is the contrast between the calm, majestic bull, and the tense, engaged humans surrounding it. The bull's gentle gaze and relaxed posture seem to underscore the gravity of the discussion among the Romans.

I think the artist was trying to communicate the significance and importance of the negotiation or discussion. The presence of the bull, an animal often associated with strength, fertility, and prosperity in ancient Roman culture, may symbolize the high stakes or the potential rewards of the outcome.

I would love to learn more about this image's context and story.

The detail in particular jumped out at me as I was looking at this image all men are conducting an animal sacrifice, not the women. I think the artist was trying to communicate gender roles because men are going to conduct an animal sacrifice and the women stay home. I would like to find out more about why they are doing the an animal sacrifice.

• What detail in particular jumps out at you as you look at this images?

The detail that stands out to me is the figure's concentrated gaze is remarkable, highlighted by broad eyes and a wrinkled forehead. This expression appears to show commitment or decision-making.

• What do you think the artist was trying to communicate?

The artist aims to showcase Cornelius symbolizing his political importance military strength, and contentious legacy as a cruel leader who used violent strategies to strengthen his dominance. The artist could also be showing strength and leadership marking him as a figure of both admiration and fear within the Roman Republic.

• What would you like to find out more about?

Does the bust's expression seem stern, arrogant, or contemplative, and how might that relate to his historical portrayal as a powerful Roman general?

Week 14: 

The first thing that stands out to me in the picture of the sacrifice by Marcus Aurelius is that there’s a large crowd around the sacrificial site. Aside from the young woman in the center who seems to be holding a tablet, the crowd consists entirely of men. The woman may take the role of orating rites while there is a short man with a horn and a larger man wielding a hatchet. This seems to convey how sacrifices to the gods were important spectacles to be worshipped and witnessed in person. The sacred nature of these rituals are only emphasized by how seemingly no one person assumes more than a single role of the sacrificial process. Another thing to note is that the sacrifice is an ox that stands taller than some of the men present. The author could be trying to communicate that the purpose of this specific ritual is as important as the sacrifice itself is enormous. I would like to learn more about the types of sacrifices that occurred and the different reasons and circumstances under which they were performed.

• What detail in particular jumps out at you as you look at this images?

The detail that struck me first was the child in the relief. I wonder if age was significant in these sacrifices or they happened to be a child of an important individual. I also noticed someone playing what seems to be a wind instrument, so I wonder if these sacrifices were a joyous occasion that attracted onlookers, perhaps to receive blessings from the sacrifice. I think it is interesting that are only men depicted in this artwork, signalling an importance in gender in carrying out these rites.

• What do you think the artist was trying to communicate? 

By including people of different ages in this artwork, it sends the message that sacrifices and religious rites were important and should be observed from a young age. It communicates a patriarchal religious world because of the lack of women. As the animal is large too, it may signify that this was an especially important ceremony.

• What would you like to find out more about? 

Were different animal sacrificed for different ceremonies? What was this specific sacrifice for? Was it important for emperors to perform these activities? Were they open to the public?

• The detail that jumped out at me when I saw this image is the marble bust. The bone structure is solid and well defined, but what is most striking are the piercing, sunken eyes that convey a sense of solemnity and timelessness. The detailed hair and fine texture of the marble bring this bust to life, while the Roman-style architectural background completes its historical atmosphere.
• The author likely sought to convey notions of power, authority, and determination, elevating the subject to a position of symbolic or historical importance. The incorporation of marble underscores the importance of the subject, implying that it was an individual of political, military, or cultural significance. One wonders who this figure might be, whether it was a ruler of Rome, a politician, or a philosopher, and under what conditions the bust was created. Knowing the time and place would provide even more information about the type of artistic technique and culture that was used to create the object. The representation may have been commissioned to idealize someone or to show certain characteristics that were sought after in Roman society, such as leadership and gravitas.
• I would like to know more about his role in ancient Rome, whether he was a leader or a hero, also when and where this bust was created, the intentions and techniques of the author when creating this statue and the cultural and political significance of this statue.

The relief where an animal is led to sacrifice at an altar caught my attention. The theme of sacrifice was often raised in the art of ancient Rome and showed the relationship of people with the gods. Romans saw this process - pietas - as a way to maintain the favor of the divine because important decisions depended on their opinion.

In the image, we can see an altar to the left side, the sacred place for sacrifice. It is a bull to the right - most likely a big and generous gift, which represents fertility and strength. The central figure looks like a priest or political figure, creating the link between the city-state and gods.

The author probably wants to talk about the importance of religion and traditional sacrifice: look, we are a wealthy and successful nation, and it is because the gods are always by our side. Maybe, he also passes this knowledge to the future generations, so Rome will keep being stable and prosperous.

Is the central figure a priest or a magistrate? Did political figures use the ritual of sacrifice for their benefit, to attract more support from people for example? Were there any cases of human sacrifice in Roman culture? Did they take this tradition from the Greek culture, or it was formed as their own part of communication with their gods? There is also a kid and a woman in the picture, is the sacrifice a kind of entertainment festival event?

The intense gaze of the figure is striking, emphasized by the deep-set eyes and furrowed brow. This expression seems to convey determination or contemplation.

The artist might have been aiming to showcase the strength, leadership, or stoicism of the subject. The realistic detail in the muscles and face suggests a desire to highlight the subject's physical and moral strength.

I’d like to learn more about the identity of the figure, the historical or cultural context in which the sculpture was created, and how it was originally displayed.

While looking at the images one trend I noticed was that they all appeared to be men, whether old or young. It makes sense given that political stuff was male-dominated so they're going to place a heavier emphasis on men. But the image that stuck to me was Marcus Aurelius conducting an animal sacrifice. This jumped to me because while I know the romans were polytheistic/pagan and were superstitious like you've talked about before, I didn't really regard them as super superstitious people that called for them to be all for animal sacrifice and the likes, though it does make sense given what was talked about in class. One thing I would like to find out how were does that didn't adhere to religion treated? Or didn't take it seriously? What if they were a really good general, did the romans just 'throw' them out or is it like useful evil.

I decided to pick the statue of an unknown young Roman. One detail that stands out to me in this statue is the intricate balance between realism and idealism in the young Roman’s depiction. His facial features are strikingly lifelike, especially the slight furrow of his brow, which gives him an air of thoughtfulness. Additionally, the detailed folds of the garment draped over his shoulder add texture and a sense of movement, making the figure feel dynamic and natural. I believe the artist was trying to communicate a sense of idealized youth and strength, values highly respected in Roman society. This statue could symbolize virtues like discipline, modesty, or service to the state, integral to Roman identity. The bare chest might signify bravery or athleticism, while the simplicity of the draped garment conveys dignity without excessive ornamentation. I want to learn more about the context in which this statue was created. Was it meant to honor a specific individual, such as a military figure, philosopher, or statesman? Additionally, I am curious about the artistic techniques used to achieve this level of realism and how this piece compares to other Roman statues of the same period.

All the works pictured above have a visceral sense of seriousness and gravitas. I chose the image of Marcus Aurelius conducting an animal sacrifice. One detail that immediately stood out to me was Marcus Aurelius's demeanor as he performed the ritual. The depiction of the emperor surrounded by attendants and participants emphasizes his role as a political leader and a religious figure, embodying the unity of civic and sacred responsibilities in Roman life.

I believe the artist intended to communicate the emperor’s piety and the importance of religious rituals in maintaining the stability and prosperity of the state. The presence of the sacrificial bull and the intricate depiction of the participants’ attire and gestures reflect the gravity of the ceremony, symbolizing the harmony between the gods and Rome’s leadership. This image serves as a visual reinforcement of Marcus Aurelius’s legitimacy and commitment to upholding tradition.

I would like to learn more about the specific context of this sacrifice—what occasion it marked and how the Roman people received it. Additionally, I’m curious how such depictions of emperors in religious roles influenced public perceptions of their authority and the relationship between religion and politics during Marcus Aurelius’s reign.

In the first image depicted with the members of senate and priests on the side of Ara Pacis I find this image the most interesting. There are several reasons that I find this image particularly interesting, one being the skill of craftsmanship required to sculpt the art, the second being the cultural significance of the image and the third being the evolution of a civilization. The skill of the craftsmanship is significant as it can tell modern day people a lot about an ancient society such as if they were capable of metal work, how sophisticated was their art in terms of what it depicts as well as if it is similar to other surrounding civilizations, and it can tell people about what they valued. The cultural significance of the art is important as knowing what the art represents to them can teach us what is important in their society. In this example the image depicts priests and senate which are both high class members of Roman society and this image is part of a greater Roman monument which was commissioned by senate after Emperor Julius Caesar Augustus had returned from war campaigns which are all culturally significant. In terms of the evolutionary aspect of civilizations, the image depicts members of the senate in turn meaning that they have political ideals and forms of government, it also tells us about how Rome was ruled which tells us they were fairly advanced. The image also depicts religion which is clearly important to them, furthermore we know they believed in multiple gods making it a pagan religion and even deeper we can see that the gods are the same as the previous Greek gods however remade to be made Roman. This tells us a lot, as Rome rather than taking something absorbing it which then would result in a mix of the culture, instead take something and make it more Roman and then essentially turn them into colonies. Overall the image depicts a lot about Rome and shows how developed they were for the time period. I think the artist was trying to convey what was culturally significant to him as well as the shared mindset of the civilization but as well as how great Rome was in general. The art kind of seems to me as a show of superiority as we know during times of safety and well being art often develops in civilizations. However in the case of Rome, Rome always is at war and Rome wants to be at war because they are good at so this art feels like it's saying look at us we are the most militarily, culturally and technologically strongest power. I would like to know more about the conquests of Rome and the treatment of occupied peoples as well as their art. 

Marcus Porcius Cato (known as Cato the Younger).

What stuck out to me is that he seems to be holding a scroll which could be a way to symbolically show he was a philosopher. I believe that the creator included the scroll in this to show his wisdom and his stoic disposition could be a way of showing how firm his resolve is in the point he is making. I would like to know what made the creator decide to make a statue of him out of other historical figures of their time.