Gemma Augustae relief

Product description

The relief has been crafted after the Gemma Augustae. The original is a bas-relief made in cameo. It was presumably made in 10 AD by Dioscorides or one of his pupils.

The upper part of the relief depicts the court of Emperor Augustus. 1, The enthroned figure, presumably Emperor Augustus. 2, the figure who places a laurel upon his head. 3, Oikoumene: the personification of the civilised world. 4, unknown. 5, Oceanus or Neptune. 6, the personification of Tellus or Italia. 7 & 8, presumably the representation of water. 9, the sun, which presumably symbolises the seasons. 10, the eagle of Jupiter.

The lower half of the relief is considerably more indistinct, and is presumably concerned with the expansion of the empire. 11, Celts or Germanic tribes, dauntless and with wild facial expressions. 12, 15, 18, 19 & 20 depict Mars and the Roman conquest of an area. 16 & 17 possibly show the constellation of Gemini. 13 is possibly Diana.

The relief is crafted from plaster alabaster. It measures 23 x 19 cm and the reverse is fitted with a hook to hang it upon a wall.