Roman imperial iconography
E76002
Roman imperial iconography is the visual language of power, authority, and divinity developed under the Roman Empire, characterized by idealized portraits, triumphal imagery, and symbolic motifs used to legitimize and glorify emperors and their rule.
Statements (96)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Roman art
ⓘ
iconographic tradition ⓘ political propaganda ⓘ visual culture ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
emperor worship
ⓘ
imperial cult ⓘ imperial propaganda ⓘ imperial titulature ⓘ state religion of ancient Rome ⓘ triumphal processions ⓘ victory celebrations ⓘ |
| characterizedBy |
allegorical figures
ⓘ
idealized portraits of emperors ⓘ military imagery ⓘ religious imagery ⓘ symbolic motifs ⓘ triumphal imagery ⓘ use of personifications ⓘ |
| depicts |
distribution of largess
ⓘ
emperors ⓘ gods and goddesses ⓘ imperial family members ⓘ military victories ⓘ personifications of provinces ⓘ personifications of virtues ⓘ public ceremonies ⓘ triumphal entries ⓘ |
| developedIn | Roman Empire ⓘ |
| developedUnder |
Constantinus Magnus
ⓘ
surface form:
Constantine the Great
Flavian dynasty ⓘ Hadrian ⓘ Julio-Claudian dynasty ⓘ Severan dynasty ⓘ Diocletian's Tetrarchy ⓘ
surface form:
Tetrarchy
Trajan ⓘ |
| emergesUnder | Augustus ⓘ |
| hasConcept |
emperor as benefactor
ⓘ
emperor as cosmic ruler ⓘ emperor as god ⓘ emperor as military victor ⓘ emperor as restorer of peace ⓘ |
| hasFunction |
communication across language barriers
ⓘ
integration of local elites ⓘ promotion of dynastic continuity ⓘ reinforcement of social hierarchy ⓘ standardization of imperial image ⓘ visual unification of empire ⓘ |
| hasMedium |
architectural decoration
ⓘ
cameos ⓘ coins ⓘ gems ⓘ imperial statues ⓘ mosaics ⓘ public monuments ⓘ relief sculpture ⓘ sculpture ⓘ triumphal arches ⓘ wall painting ⓘ |
| influencedBy |
Greek classical art
ⓘ
Hellenistic royal iconography ⓘ Republican Roman imagery ⓘ local provincial traditions ⓘ |
| influences |
Byzantine imperial iconography
ⓘ
Renaissance representations of emperors ⓘ late antique imperial imagery ⓘ medieval rulership imagery ⓘ |
| timePeriod |
1st century BCE
ⓘ
1st century CE ⓘ 2nd century CE ⓘ 3rd century CE ⓘ 4th century CE ⓘ |
| usedFor |
communication of authority
ⓘ
communication of divinity ⓘ expression of imperial power ⓘ glorification of emperors ⓘ legitimation of imperial rule ⓘ |
| usesMotif |
altar
ⓘ
cornucopia ⓘ corona civica ⓘ eagle ⓘ globe ⓘ laurel wreath ⓘ oak wreath ⓘ personified Aeternitas ⓘ personified Concordia ⓘ Tyche ⓘ
surface form:
personified Fortuna
Pax ⓘ
surface form:
personified Pax
personified Providentia ⓘ personified Roma ⓘ personified Victoria ⓘ personified Virtus ⓘ radiate crown ⓘ scepter ⓘ trophy of arms ⓘ victory figure ⓘ victory palm ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.