Altar dedicated to Mars and Venus

myminifactory

The front side of this altar boldly displays the god Mars, revered ancestor of Romulus and all Roman people alike. Alongside him stands Venus, mother of Aeneas and illustrious matriarch of the gens Julia. The reverse side showcases a stirring scene: a she-wolf nurtures Romulus and Remus; the personification of the river Tiber watches over them with gentle concern; and two fleeing shepherds - likely Faustulus, adoptive father of the twins, and his brother Faustinus - hasten to their aid. On the left, the personification of the Palatine, clad in a shepherd's garb, stands ready to lend support. Meanwhile, an eagle representing Zeus hovers majestically above the sacred grotto of Lupercal, underscoring that pivotal events unfold under divine guidance. The altar's two sides are intricately carved with cupids, loyal companions of Venus, playfully manipulating the chariot and arms of Mars. Inscriptions indicate that this altar was originally dedicated to Mars and Venus but later served as a pedestal for a bronze statue of Silvanus. The consuls mentioned in the text firmly establish the inscription's date as October 1st, 124 AD. The carvings, cornice, and moldings form part of an iconographic collection dating back to the reign of Trajan (98-117 AD) and the early Hadrianic period (117-132 AD). The inscriptions, added just a few years later, corroborate this timeframe. During this era, Emperor Hadrian actively promoted renewed interest in themes connected to Rome's origins.