The Important Role That Art And Architecture Have Played In Imperial Propaganda

The art and architecture has played an important role in the imperial propaganda or the glorification of secular rulers. Different rulers during their reign had used iconography to set up their power to an expanding empire that influenced general people. For example, the Romans beautifully portrayed their views, culture and daily activities through art and architecture.

The evidence from the prehistoric and early civilization artifacts has shown that there were attempts to show propaganda of majesty and supernatural powers of rulers and priests at that time. In a preliterate age, glaring costumes, badge, and monuments used by the royals or kings were intentionally created to express a superiority and power to their people. In ancient Greece, writings of Confucius in his Analects was used for delivering message. He suggested that the use of rhetoric along with different forms of speech and writing, could be used to persuade people for living a meaningful life.

Before 500 B. C. E. , we can find numerous examples of effective propaganda techniques used by the rulers. Most of them were created to support war or religious sentiment. The wars were fought in the name of the king, who was often personified as “The Living God”. This was best explained by the Egyptian pharaohs (refs) where people devised their own unique, personalized styled monuments, such as the Sphinx and the Pyramids. The power of public architecture on a large scale to demonstrate prestige and dynastic legitimacy was first recognized by Pharaohs.

Greek civilization after 800 B. C. E. we could find the first systematic application of propaganda in warfare and daily personal life. After 750 B. C. E. , the Greek city-states became the basis of an increasingly structured society. Every state had its own gods, culture, and social hierarchy which can be seen in their architecture too. The iconography of propaganda flourished, and the temples, monumental sculptures, and other buildings became significant symbols to represent power of the state. The Alexander Great had built many statues and monuments in his honor, and his portrait were also found in pottery, coins, buildings, and formal arts. Coins were the early form of mass propaganda (e. g. , Julius Caesar’s coins), which were widely circulated and intended to represent the power of the state with the different symbols stamped on them. Caesar’s reputation was thought to be descended from the Venus (which was regarded as goddess at that time). He created his own mythical legends from ordinary events, and made himself felt that he was supernatural (reference).