The text describes how large statues, or 'Augusts,' were dedicated to historical leaders and figures and were considered significant if they exceeded the standard size. Mentioning Queen Dido's lament, it notes the ancient customs of granting statues only to heroes, not those who chose death. Very large statues were known as colossi.
On the Human Figure
Aristogone, Homer, Solon, Hippocrates, Gorgias, Beroe, Pythagoras, Plato, Brutus, Quintus Mucius, to Clélie, a strong woman, to the Catons, to Quintus Ennius, Marcus Varro, Virgil, Cicero, and other illustrious figures.
Statues are said to be large when they exceed half the usual proportion: they are called Augusts because similar statues are raised for Kings and Emperors, such as Phoroneus, Lycurgus, Themistocles, Xerxes, Alexander, Romulus, Numa, Tatius, Cnaeus Pompey, Caesar, Augustus, and the other Roman Emperors who were elevated to the rank of Gods. It is in this idea, I think, that Queen Dido, ready to take her last breath, exclaims:
"So my image will perish with me in the grave!" And now my great image will go underground!
She seems to lament that they will refuse to erect a statue for her and to apotheosize her after her death, because it was customary among the ancients not to grant this honor to those who voluntarily ended their lives.
Larger statues were double the ordinary size: they were erected only for heroes, such as Bacchus, Hercules, Theseus, and others alike.
Very large statues are three times the ordinary size of the human figure. They are named colossi, either because they are hollowed out
Translation Notes
- "Augusts" refers to monumental statues made for revered leaders.
- "Apotheosize" means to elevate someone to a god-like status after death, particularly in this context related to statue building.