Processional Frieze (detail), Ara PacisUnknown Roman artist

The Ara Pacis frieze (13–9 BC) depicts veiled women and youths in a ceremonial procession, symbolizing family and state sanctity under Augustus. Their solemn demeanor illustrates Roman ideals of harmony and civic virtue, reinforcing Augustus’s vision of moral renewal. The scene emphasizes continuity through lineage and tradition, reflecting the emperor’s efforts to establish a stable, prosperous society rooted in ancestral values and divine favor.