The Greek paradigm: a model for life-style, a case od academic classicism, or a bulding block of Imperial culture?; The monuments: how language works; Battle-scenes: the tradition of Hellenistic pathos; Battle-scenes: their reception in Rome; State ceremonial: the tradition of Classical dignity; The semantic system: the elements and their use; The semantix system: premisses and structures; The origins of the system: dynamics and statics; Language of imagery and style; Conclusion: language of imagery and culture of empire.