Augustus of Prima Porta

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Augustus of Prima Porta
Augustus of Prima Porta
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Artist	Unknown
Year	1st century AD
Type	White marble
Location	Vatican Museums, Vatican City
Coordinates	41°54′23″N 12°27′16″E / 41.90646°N 12.45435°E / 41.90646; 12.45435

The Augustus of Prima Porta (Italian: Augusto di Prima Porta) is a full-length portrait statue of Augustus, the first Roman emperor.

The statue was discovered on April 20, 1863, during archaeological excavations directed by Giuseppe Gagliardi at the Villa of Livia owned by Augustus' third and final wife, Livia Drusilla in Prima Porta. Livia had retired to the villa after Augustus's death in AD 14. The statue was discovered in 1863 and first publicized by the German archeologist Wilhelm Henzen in the same year.

Crafted by skilled Greek sculptors, the marble statue is believed to be a copy of a lost original bronze piece displayed in Rome. It blends Greek and Roman elements to craft an official image of Augustus, showcasing his grasp of visual influence. While the head portrays a realistic youthful Augustus, the body diverges from reality; despite its clothed form, it resembles the heroic stance found in Greek statues. The detailed armor, depicting a Parthian returning standards to a Roman, symbolizes peace along the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire.^[1] The statue stands 2.08 metres (6 ft 10 in) tall and weighs 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb).

The Augustus of Prima Porta is now displayed in the Braccio Nuovo (New Arm) of the Vatican Museums. Since its discovery, it has become the best known of Augustus' portraits and one of the most famous sculptures of the ancient world.