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The floral frieze below the Tellus panel extends around the entire structure, making it
the dominant decorative motif of the altar. Ultimately, its symbolic origin can be traced
to the sacred tree motifs of Mesopotamia, which were strongly associated with Inanna/
Ishtar. From their early incarnations as palm trees, sacred trees evolved into highly stylized,
mythical plants, often bearing a variety of fruits at the tips of their branches. It could be said
that the floral frieze of the Ara Pacis Augustae takes the sacred tree motif to its most com-
plex apotheosis. From a basal cluster of acanthus leaves sprouts a complex pattern of curling
stems and leaves of various species, including ivy, grape, laurel, oak, and olive, terminating
in a variety of flowers and fruits rendered in strikingly naturalistic detail.^18 Nestled among
the foliage of the mythical plant are animals: snakes, birds, frogs, lizards, and grasshoppers.Figure 9.4 The so- called “Tellus” panel of the Ara Pacis Augustae. The upper panel depicts the
goddess with two infants, flanked by a spair of nymphs. The lower panel is part of the floral frieze
that surrounds the monument.
Photographed by the authors.