Parthian Monument, Roman victory monument in Ephesus Archaeological Site, Turkey.
The Parthian Monument is a Roman victory monument from Ephesus whose marble reliefs depict battle scenes, Roman soldiers, and conquered cities from the Parthian campaign. The fragments display military scenes with considerable craftsmanship and historical detail.
The monument was erected around 170 CE to celebrate Emperor Lucius Verus's military victories against the Parthian Empire between 162 and 165 CE. It served as an important propaganda work to glorify Roman military power during this period.
The reliefs display Roman symbols such as the she-wolf, Romulus and Remus, and the goddess Roma to emphasize imperial authority. These images convey how Rome expressed its dominance over conquered peoples.
The monument's fragments are displayed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, where visitors can examine the detailed military scenes in close detail. The museum provides a sheltered environment for studying the delicate marble carvings.
Notably, the reliefs depict Emperor Lucius Verus in a chariot heading into battle, which is unusual since Romans did not use chariots in warfare. This choice shows how the artist borrowed eastern imagery to emphasize the campaign against a chariot-using power.
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