The imperial cult was an arm of officially directed propaganda with quickly assimilable messages. In this scene of vigorous motion, a Roman soldier pulls again his arm to stab the Empress when fending off her mom. Beside her sits Claudius with one arm about her neck and Jupiter's thunderbolt in his other hand. In its Roman adaptation, Messalina is in front guiding the chariot while Claudius stands powering her steadying his traveling robe.