Ceremonial Front
original west front
Stairs, Doorway, Pilasters, Molding, Cornice, Base
Portions of the entrance stairs and ceremonial doorway have survived, discolored here as elsewhere by centuries of burial in the soil. In the view through the doorway, we must imagine the sacrificial altar partially covered with reliefs and perhaps priests at the altar.
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Left door surround, reconstructed on basis of opposite door surround. See photo at far right. photo Oct. 2008
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When looking through the doorway, we must image the sacrificial altar partly covered with reliefs and perhaps priests at the altar. photo Oct. 2008
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The large surviving remnant of the door surround in this photo and a similar one on the opposite front provide the basis for reconstructing the width and trim of all 4 door surrounds. photo Oct. 2008
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Much of the original marble, embedded in the earth for centuries, has discolored, helping to distinguish it from modern additions. photo July 2008 |
Clear distinction has been made between original marble and modern additions. photo July 2008
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Portions of the original marble stairs are protected from wear. photo July 2008
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Only a few fragments of the base molding survive, but these suggest that ionic molding ran around the base of most of the exterior precinct wall. The slot at the bottom is original and allowed drainage of probably blood and water and, presuming the monument had no roof, of rain water. photo July. 2008
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"Fig. 1 - Ara Pacis in a drawing by G. Gatti". In this drawing, Gatti delineates the Ara Pacis as reconstructed in 1938. Guglielmo Gatti was a distinguished archaeologist-scholar, the associate of the director, Giuseppe Moretti in the 1937-38 excavation and reconstruction of the Ara Pacis. Scanned from Giuseppe Moretti, L'Ara Pacis Augustae; Rome, 2005 (ist ed. 1948), vol.2, pl.1. Courtesy of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Rome. 2005 (ist ed. 1948), vol.2, fig. 99. Reproduced with appreciation. |
The form of the staircase with its 9 flat steps was established when excavating. An unusual amount of the original marble staircase survives, including the 2 narrow, vertical, side string-pieces. photo Oct. 2008
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