Museo dell'Ara Pacis - Exterior

Back of Museum

The most obvious indication of the transformation from a small, single purpose pavilion to a larger, multi-purpose museum is the addition of this structure behind the grand hall displaying the Ara Pacis. This structure houses offices, a handsome auditorium, and other facilities. Although rarely discussed, this addition blocks what was previously one of the two entrances to the Ara Pacis pavilion (photo below), a structure balanced end-to-end like the Ara Pacis itself, though with stairs at both ends. In the new museum, the only major entrance is from the south, directing visitors to view the ceremonial entrance front of the Ara Pacis (original west front) as the primary, even the only front. This contributes to the misconception that the public avenue front (original east front), the iconic image represented on coins, was the back of the monument.

CLICK THE LINKS ON THE DIAGRAM ABOVE.

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