Via Labicana Augustus at The Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris

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This massive marble sculpture was unearthed in the Via Labicana, an ancient Roman road that stretched east-southeast from Rome. The road entered the city through the Aurelian walls via the Porta Prenestina gate, where the sculpture likely originated. The artwork is also known as Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of the College of Pontiffs in Ancient Rome. As the Pontifex Maximum, Augustus held the most powerful position in ancient Roman religion, accessible only to patricians until 245 BC, when a plebeian first occupied the post. Over time, this distinctly religious office became politicized, eventually merging with the Imperial office under Augustus' leadership. After Julius Caesar's assassination and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus' exile, Augustus was granted the authority to appoint other pontifices, leading to the creation of this sculpture. It is a significant work because it adds another layer to Augustus' self-representation; not only was he the political leader of the Roman Empire, but also its spiritual head. In his Res Gestae 19-20, Augustus proudly lists his numerous religious contributions to Rome, including the construction of temples for Minerva, Queen Juno, and Jupiter Libertas. Augustan statues are highly controlled, with only a few distinct subgroups; this sculpture can be classified as one of the "Prima Porta type" based on its hairstyle. Like all Augustus' statues, it is depicted in an idealizing Greek style, showing him younger than his actual age at the time. In contrast to traditional Republican Roman portraiture, which was realistic in approach, this sculpture presents an idealized image of the emperor. This bust variant is a representation of a full-body sculpture of Augustus wearing the toga of the Pontifex Maximus, with his head veiled and ready for a sacrifice. In the full sculpture, Augustus wears calcei patricii (patrician shoes) and extends his right arm to pour a libation. A cupsa (container for official documents) lies at his feet. This bust was scanned at the Casting Workshop of the Reunion des Musées Nationaux in Paris, where it is now on permanent display at the National Museum of Rome. This sculpture is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help. Scanned using photogrammetry (processed with Agisoft PhotoScan).