The Augustus Alter of Peace, which can also be called by it’s Italian Latin name the Ara Pacis, was built for Augustus. Ara Pacis simply means altar, which is the main part of the building.
Augustus was the ruler or Emperor of Rome at the time. The altar was built to remember Augustus’ victories and his safe return to Rome because he had been away for three years.
During those three years, Augustus had battles with the Hispania and the Gauls (now the Spanish and the French)
An altar is a large and raised table or stone block that is used to offer gifts to gods. The Romans would kill animals on their altars as gifts to their gods.
The Altar of Peace is an altar with big, thick, high walls around it, but no roof. It was built in 13 BC and is over 3 meters tall. The walls around the altar are about 11 meters tall.
The Senate or the people who made the laws of Rome, asked for the Altar to be built for Augustus. The Ara Pacis took about four years to make.
It took so long because the stone walls had to be carved to create the pictures on them. It was finally shown to Augustus and the Roman people as part of a big party on 4th July 13 BC.
The Alter is made from marble but has become famous because of how good the images on the walls are.
The walls of the alter show many of the important people in Rome at that time, and Augustus’s family, who were also known as the royal family.
The wall around the Altar of Peace have had pictures of people, and other things carved or cut into the stone walls.
It takes a lot of skill to be able to cut stone so that pictures are formed, and this is why it took so long to make the Ara Pacis. The walls have different images on them.
On one side, are pictures of Augustus, his family and other important people at the time. On another wall, there are pictures of fruit and flowers.
The walls also have pictures of people from stories, such as the gods the Romans believed in, as well as Romulus and Remus and Mother Earth.
The Ara Pacis was built for Augustus as a way to remember how well he had done in the battles against the Gauls and the Spanish.
The Altar was also a gift to the Pax, the Roman god of Peace. When Augustus returned to Rome after these battles, the Senate wanted to thank him, but also ask gods to stop future battles.