Richard Meier museum, housing the Augustan Ara Pacis
The Ara Pacis is an altar to Peace envisioned as a Roman Goddess. You can see a portion of it to the right of the picture. It was commissioned by the Roman Senate on 4 July 13 BC to honor the triumphal return of the Roman emperor Augustus, from territories now known as France and Spain. It was then consecrated 4 years later to celebrate the peace established in the Empire after Augustus's victories. The altar sought to portray the peace and fertile prosperity enjoyed in Rome as a consequence of the Pax Augusta, The Augustan Peace.
The 2006 Ara Pacis Museum, designed by the noted American architect Richard Meier, was at one point in danger of being demolished or relocated to a suburban site.
Rome’s newly elected Mayor, Alemmano had announced at a news conference that “Meier's building is a construction to be scrapped.”
What is your opinion on this Roman controversy?
In the meantime, while you ponder this, head over to Newton Area Photo for more
First, I think this is a fantastic shot and the history is incredible! Last, if I understand this right, I think people should let history be, especially this with it's symbolism of peace! Thanks for letting me take the podium!
ReplyDeleteI think that the Roman altar is spectacular. I am not much into modern architecture so I won't comment about that :)
ReplyDeleteELE: When I was first in Rome (long before we met in Bennington) the Ara Pace was all boarded up and a place for twilight lovers to steal a kiss or two. Then it was opened for a while to the elements and now it has an interesting new home..Good use of history and good thought to celebrate peace (even if enforced by the Roman Armies).. Keep up the great photos, Grpb.
ReplyDeleteLet it stand! Peace is desired today as much as any other day in history...let peace prevail through this monument! And...this is a beautiful reflection and window!
ReplyDeleteGreat reflection picture of this magnificent building! The Mayor want this construction to be scrapped? I thought this kind of people only take abnormal decisions in Mexico. Richard Meier won the 1998 Pritzker Architecture Prize. Saludos.
ReplyDeleteThe building looks like a glorified greenhouse and it is the main excuse behind the extortion of a 9 Euro ticket!
ReplyDeleteObviously the mayor of Rome doesn't take photos for Weekend Reflections or he would never have said that the museum should be scrapped.
ReplyDeletePax et bonum, Eleonora.
Ciao Eleonora, I actually liked the way it is showcased when I was last in Rome and your photo is beautiful. Buona fin de settimana!
ReplyDeleteOnly a couple weeks ago I was wandering around Rome--with Google Map--and I was looking at this building, trying to figure out what is was. I stayed only a few blocks away, on Via della Croce. I wish I had seen this altar, building, and park.
ReplyDeleteEleonora, remember: Parigi, Parigi,...!!
Hello Eleonora and welcome to Weekend Reflections. I really like the reflection. There is plenty to see buildings,trees, the sky and more.
ReplyDeleteThere's continuing controversy about this building? I've had the pleasure of visiting the Ara Pacis and found the building that houses it wonderfully sympathetic to this antiquity. At first I found it too modern and too white. Then it occurred to me that this is exactly what ancient Roman buildings felt like when they were new. Exact same materials, exact same location, exact same white. The open space and light showcase the delicacy of the Ara Pacis wonderfully. And the exhibition space downstairs is a fab counterpoint. The modern art featured is a wonderful contrast to the antiquity itself. Oh dear, I'm rambling on too much. Short review: Thumbs up!
ReplyDeleteIt looks a fantastic building - and a lovely place to display and preserve this historic altar.
ReplyDeleteI remember having visited this place!great games of reflections on the glasses , and thank you to remind me good moments!
ReplyDeleteHow about scrapping the mayor instead of the museum?!
ReplyDeleteHi Eleonora, in my opinion, let the place of history stand as it is.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many images reflected on this all glass.
RYC: I have been to the Carrizo Plain's wildflowers last April (2x) and enjoyed the explosion of its bloom.
The picture is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe interesting aspect of this controversy is that the Ara Pacis altar was moved from its original Mausoleum of Augustus - in the Roman suburbs, in the Flaminia area, at the edge of the ancient Campo Marzio - by Benito Mussolino! He intended to open a theme park around these ancient Roman buildings to celebrate ... Fascist Italy.
I for one have not entered the new building. It makes me feel as if looking at caged animals in a zoo, the ancient building's remains looked much more appealing the way I knew them before they were walled away behind glass. I feel the same about the beautiful Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum or that French Chapel and the Romanesque Cloister in the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Nothing but sadness that they were allowed to be moved from where they belonged.