Aphrodite — Emperor and Roman People

The panel on the left depicts a draped goddess being crowned by a female warrior figure.  the goddess is probably Aphrodite, while the warrior has the bare-breasted Amazonian dress and equipment (spear, sword-strap, shield) worn by Roma or Andreia (Bravery).  (from the description of the panel in the Museum of Aphrodisias).

The panel on the right depicts the emperor as a naked warrior and is being crowned by a personification of the 'roman People wearing a toga—the stately civilian dress of Roman citizens.  the crown is an oak wreath, the corona civica of 'civic crown' awarded for saving citizens' lives.  The emperor is setting up a battlefield trophy beneath which kneels and anguished barbarian woman captive.  (from the description of the panel in the Museum of Aphrodisias).

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The Sebasteion was a complex of structures that served as a municipal imperial cult sanctuary.  It was dedicated to Aphrodite, the main deity of Aphrodisias, and to the "gods Sebastoi"—that is to the "August Ones," namely Julius Caesar and his successors.  Local elite persons built it to solidify their ties with Rome.  Its construction began during the reign of Tiberius and continued into the reign of Nero.