THE ANCIENT RELIEF IN PALAZZO SACCHETTI: VISUALIZING IMPERIAL LEGITIMACY, EXPLORING EMPEROR-SENATE RELATIONS AND EXPANDING THE MEANING OF IMPERIAL IUSTITIA

This article offers a fresh interpretation of the ancient Roman relief at Palazzo Sacchetti, identifying it as a depiction of the senatorial delegation meeting Septimius Severus at Interamna in AD 193. Through iconographic analysis, it argues that the relief embodies the Senate’s expectations for Severus’ rule, grounding his image in the principle of Iustitia and portraying him as a model of moderation and fairness. Ultimately, it reveals how the relief uses a ‘historical’ depiction of a real event as a lens to examine the negotiation of power dynamics between the emperor and the Senate at the outset of Septimius Severus’ reign.