The Antonines
Early in 138 CE, Hadrian adopted the 51-year-old Antoninus Pius
(r. 138–161 CE). At the same time, he required that Antoninus adopt
Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180 CE) and Lucius Verus (r. 161–169 CE),
thereby assuring a peaceful succession for at least another genera-
tion. When Hadrian died later in the year, the Senate proclaimed
him a god, and Antoninus Pius became emperor. Antoninus ruled
the Roman world with distinction for 23 years. After his death and
deification, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus became the Roman
Empire’s first co-emperors.
COLUMN OF ANTONINUS PIUSShortly after Antoninus
Pius’s death, Marcus and Lucius erected a memorial column in his
honor. Its pedestal has a dedicatory inscription on one side and a re-
lief illustrating the apotheosis (FIG. 10-57), or ascent to Heaven, of
Antoninus and his wife Faustina the Elder on the opposite side. On
the adjacent sides are two identical representations of the decursio
(FIG. 10-58), or ritual circling of the imperial funerary pyre.
The two figural compositions are very different. The apotheosis
relief remains firmly in the Classical tradition with its elegant, well-
proportioned figures, personifications, and single ground line corre-
sponding to the panel’s lower edge. The Campus Martius (Field of
Mars), personified as a youth holding the Egyptian obelisk that
stood in that area of Rome, reclines at the lower left corner. Roma
(Rome personified) leans on a shield decorated with the she-wolf
suckling Romulus and Remus (compare FIG. 9-11). Roma bids272 Chapter 10 THE ROMAN EMPIRE10-57Apotheosis of Antoninus Pius
and Faustina, pedestal of the Column of
Antoninus Pius, Rome, Italy, ca. 161 ce.
Marble, 8 11 – 2 high. Musei Vaticani, Rome.
This representation of the apotheosis (ascent
to Heaven) of Antoninus Pius and Faustina
is firmly in the Classical tradition with its
elegant, well-proportioned figures, personi-
fications, and single ground line.
10-58Decursio, pedestal of the Column
of Antoninus Pius, Rome, Italy, ca. 161 ce.
Marble, 8 11 – 2 high. Musei Vaticani, Rome.
In contrast to FIG. 10-57,the Antonine
decursio reliefs break sharply with Classical
art conventions. The ground is the whole
surface of the relief, and the figures stand
on floating patches of earth.
1 ft.1 ft.