F. A. Collins "The Roman Triumph" "O ρωμαϊκός θρίαμβος" άρθρο 1919

 


The Roman Triumph

« Ο ρωμαϊκός θρίαμβος »

by F. A. Collins

άρθρο 1919

The Sunday Tribune June 1919

 

 

 

 


 


 

 

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. ]


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The Roman Triumph

« Ο ρωμαϊκός θρίαμβος »

by F. A. Collins

άρθρο 1919

The Sunday Tribune June 1919 ]