Imperial Devoutness         

Marcus Aurelius as a priest, making a sacrificial offering at the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. A Flamen Stands next to Marcus. The spike on his helmet is difficult to make out in the relief, as it coincides with the rightmost pillar in the temple. A flutist stands in front of the bull, and the bare-chested victimarius holds the axe with which he will kill the bull. There are no particular beliefs associated with Roman state religion. Such ceremonies had no salvific or redemptive value; at best they were thought to ensure the favor of state gods. This relief probably came from an arch commemorating the victory over the Samatians in 176 CE, from which Aurelius gained the title, Sarmaticus.