Bronze statue of a camillus (acolyte)

myminifactory

As soon as he seized power, Emperor Augustus launched an ambitious program aimed at restoring the revered values of virtue, honor, and piety to their former glory. Religious cults were revitalized, temples sprouted up, public ceremonies and sacrifices filled the calendar with a sense of sacred ritual. Men from all walks of life chose to be depicted in the act of pious sacrifice, showcasing their devotion to the divine. The popular type of sculpture seen here features young boys who served as acolytes at solemn religious ceremonies. The identification of this figure as a camillus, an attendant at sacrifices chosen from the noblest families, is based on comparisons with other stages and reliefs, most notably those of the famous monument, the Ara Pacis of Augustus. According to Roman tradition, a camillus had to be below the age of puberty, and both parents must be alive, making this statue's provenance all the more remarkable. This statue may have been dedicated at a sanctuary by the boy's parents in recognition of his service to the gods, or its refined decorative qualities may signal its use as an adornment within a religious precinct, perhaps in a dining room for priests. The figure's eyes are made with precision-crafted silver, the lips with intricately crafted copper, and the tunic with strips of copper that suggest woven or embroidered bands of color. He likely held ritual objects such as a container for incense in his left hand and a jug for wine or a ladle in his right, showcasing his role as an attendant at sacred ceremonies.