•

Richard Meier Museum

•

built to enclose the Ara Pacis [AHR-ah PAHK-is]

•

the original location of the Ara Pacis was elsewhere in the vicinity, ended up beneath a palace

•

it was Mussolini who sponsored the project to bring all the pieces together for display

•

together with other buildings in Mussolini's fascist architectural style

•

Meier was careful to use at least some travertine in this structure

•

inscription on building to north of square

•

flying victory figure carrying a fasces, or bundle of twigs and rods, that the magistrate's lictors used to carry

•

Mussolini's name was scratched out of the inscription on the building

•

his name has now been officially refilled (!)

•

used to be on the ancient Via Flaminia (now the Via del Corso), the street that Augustus used when returning victorious from Spain and Gaul

•

had in front of it an obelisk which was brought from Egypt that was part of a sundial, the shadow would fall on the Ara Pacis on Augustus' birthday

•

on obelisk a mention of the victory over Cleopatra and Antony at the Battle of Actium, as well as a mention of his victories in Spain and Gaul

•

*** for the Romans, victory in battle and victory over death were essentially synonymous

•

the mausoleum dates to 28-23 BC, earlier than the Ara Pacis

•

Richard Meier museum is the first modern building that has been put up in the center of Rome since the time of Mussolini

•

many people felt that it didn't fit the tenor of city or suit the environment

•

2006: grafitti of the building, "Meglio gli architetti di secoli fa..." (architects of the past were better)

•

but when you go into the door

•

impressive plaster casts of Augustus and his family

•

impressive interior: egg crate ceiling

•

at night: the Ara Pacis is lit up "like a jewel in a jewel box"