THE DOMITIUS AHENOBARBUS RELIEFS DETAIL IN THE CENSUS

The panels which make up the Cnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus reliefs count as the second oldest surviving Roman sculptural relief. Produced in the last decades of the second century BC, they provide vital clues for Roman military equipment of the time, and much more.

By Murray Dahm

Sometimes (erroneously) identified as the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus, the panels may have originally been part of the decoration of the Temple of Neptune on the Campus Martius. Alternatively, they may have been used to decorate the rectangular base intended to display a statuary group. Ahenobarbus, consul in 122 BC and censor in 115, was heavily involved in Rome’s push into Transalpine Gaul to protect the interests of the allied city of Massalia (Marseille, France). He campaigned against neighbouring Gallic tribes, establishing Aquae Sextiae (Aix-en-Provence, France), and celebrated a triumph in 120 BC for his victory at the battle of Vindalium. He then founded the first colony in Gaul, Colonia Narbo Martius (Narbonne, France) in 118 BC. He also began the Via Domitia connecting Italy to Spain. The reliefs were probably…

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Ancient Warfare (Digital) - 1 Issue, AW XVI.6

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