How and why did the Romans build statues?

Answer 1

they built most for their gods by shaping rocks,

mostly granite.

The Romans built statues for several reasons. A statue could be erected as a memorial to a famous person, a god, or simply for decoration. But the most important reason for a statue was as a means of communication. Who the person was, what he/she was wearing (if anything) what they may be holding in their hand and the gesture of the statue all told the viewer something about the person. The materials that they used varied, but the Romans favored the white marble from the nearby quarries.

Answer 2

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Answer 3

Rich Romans, officers of state, military commanders and emperors commissioned bust or statues of themselves. They did this for their own prestige and to preserve memory of them to posterity. This was similar to the rich and powerful commissioning painting of themselves later in history.

Answer 4

Statues, like coins, were brag books for prominent Romans. Most people, especially in the provinces were illiterate so if a general or emperor did something great and glorious and deserved recognition, they would erect a statue telling the people what Mr. Great had done. This was accomplished by enabling the people to "read" the statue or coin. For example, a victorious emperor would be depicted in his armor with at least one medallion on his breastplate depicting what he had done. The empress Livia was honored as the symbolic mother of the country and being depicted as the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia of grain. In looking at the famous statue of Augustus found at Prima Porta, one can just about read his entire life from his ancestors to his deification.

Answer 5

Statues were very important for the Greeks. The Romans became Helenised (influenced by the Greeks) and so statues became very important to them as well.