“
The Roman
Triumph ”
« Ο ρωμαϊκός θρίαμβος »
by
F. A. Collins
άρθρο 1919
The
Sunday Tribune June 1919
ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ ΣΚΕΨΗ
Karl
Theodor von Piloty
“ Thusnelda at the
Triumpal Entry of Germanicus into Rome ”
oil
in canvas
ca.
1875
(The
Metropolitan Museum of Arts)
The Roman Triumph
The Roman
triumphs or festival processions were the highest distinction which could be
given a victorious commander. The line of march led through the principal
streets of the city and ended before the capitol.
The
celebration was sometimes continued for two weeks, and in the latter years of
Rome degenerated into many excesses.
Only the
regular holders of the highest commands were eligible, such as dictators,
consuls, praetors and the triumph celebrated a victory won under their command.
It was essential that the victory should be an important one, fought in the
course of a regular war and not in an engagement against citizens or slaves.
The
permission to celebrate a triumph was granted by the Roman Senate. The Roman
Senate assembled outside the city to receive the victor, and hear his report. The
procession on the day of the triumph followed a prescribed route, a line of
march. The Roman streets were decorated with garlands and a profusion of
decorations.
Victims in Procession
The
procession was always led by the state officials, usually in their chariots.
Next in line came the trumpeters. Following the music in the Roman procession
came the captured spoils of war. Loot and spoils of any kind were displayed. Long
lines of slaves were bearing the treasures of the enemy.
Directly
behind the crowds came the white bulls intented for sacrifice at the capital. Their horns were gilded and decorated with
garlands. The bulls were accompanied by young boys in holiday attire carrying
gold and silver chalices.
Humiliating the Royal Prisoners
Behind the
white bulls always came the distinguished prisoners, captured in the campaign,
who had especially spared for the triumph. They were dragged in chains along
the streets until the capitol was reached, when they were taken to prison to
meet almost always with immediate execution.
A Painted Victor
Next came the
victorious general. He was preceded by his lictors wearing purple tunics with
their faces wreathed in bay leaves. A body of musicians followed playing on the
lyre, while many priests swung censors in honor of the general. Behind these
rolled the triumphal car. It was drawn by four white horses wreathed with
garlands. The car was richly gilded and heaped with bay leaves.
In the early
days the body of Roman general was dyed a bright vermillon. In all these
triumphs the victorious general was dressed at the Capitoline Jupiter, this
costume being brought for the occasion from the temple. It consisted of a
purple tunic embroldered with gold palm shoots, a toga decorated with gold
stars on a purple ground and gilded shoes. He carried an ivory scepter,
surmounted by an eagle, in his left hand, and in his right hand a branch of
bay. A slave stood beside him holding the golden crown of Jupiter. Incidentally
the general who had faced the dangers of battle must guard himself against the
evil eye by carrying an amulet on his person or tied to the car. The crowd
greeted him with cheers and shouts and to these the general always replied with
the same advice, “Look behind you and
remember that you are a mortal.”
The youngest
child of the general rode beside him or upon one of the horses. His grown-up
sons rode behind him with his lieutenants and officers. The soldiers brought up
the rear wearing decorations and shouting “Io Triumph.” This was varied by
singing songs in honor of their general as well as by shouting ribald jests at
his expense.
The
procession found its way to the temple of the Capitoline Jupiter, when the
general as a token of victory placed on the lap of the god the bay leaves with
his own branch of bay or a palm branch when he followed the sacrifice of
thanksgiving which ensued.
[ μία από τις φωτο στο
άρθρο ήταν και ο πίνακας του Piloty.
Επειδή όμως δεν διακρινόταν ευκρινώς εδώ επιλέχθηκε να αντιγραφεί από ιστότοπο
του Metropolitan Museum
of
Arts.
H
λεζάντα κάτω από τον
πίνακα, σύντομη περιγραφή του πίνακα, προέρχεται από το άρθρο. ]
The Sunday Tribune,
Providence, Rhode Island, (U.S.A.), June 29, 1919, [ magazine section, p. 6. ]
( o τίτλος
της εφημερίδος )
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[ ανάρτηση 27 Αυγούστου 2024 :
“ The Roman Triumph
”
[ ο ρωμαϊκός θρίαμβος ]
by F. A. Collins
άρθρο 1919
The Sunday Tribune
June 1919
ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ
ΣΚΕΨΗ
]
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