Post on 04-Apr-2018
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26a. The Augustan Program
The Augustan Program:Religion, Art, and Literature
The Princeps, now a monopolist of the means of
influencing opinion, used all his arts to persuade men to
accept the Principate and its programme.
R. Syme, Roman Revolution, 458.
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A Return to Traditional Values Some important Roman morals
romanitas(patriotism)
gravitas(seriousness)
virtus(valour, courage)
pietas(loyalty to family, country, and the gods)
Importance of marriage, children, and family
the problem of legislating morality
Revival of religion
Veneration of Roman heroesincluding, increasingly,
Augustus himself!
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Religion in the Age of Augustus
Temple building and restoration Cult of Apollo associated with Augustus, especially at the Temple of
Palatine Apollo next to his house
Revival of old cults
Monopolization of priesthoods by the imperial family
Secular Games of 17 B.C.
from saeculumor age: ushering in a new Golden Age
Veneration of Augustus genius
Every household honored the life-force/procreative power of the paterfamilias(head of the family)
Received cult, especially on the fathers family and at special events
Since Augustus was the pater patrias(father of the country), his geniuswas venerated as a guardian spirit in Rome and Italy
In accordance with Hellenistic practice, Augustus himself wasincreasingly worshipped in the provinces, especially in theEast
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Augustan Sculpture Constituted the third phase of Roman sculpture
followed the Early (funerary) style and the Late Republican(realistic) style
Reverted to the idealism of Classical Greece
Crisp, polished, classicizing elegance
Subjects and execution both reflect propagandisticintent
Revival of mythical imagery
Golden Age symbolism Floral ornamentation, bucrania (ox sculls decorated with
garlands), grain, fruits, children
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Imperial Portraiture
The wrinkled, hard-bitten, and occasionally tormented lookof late Republican portraiture was replaced by smooth,imperturbable visages, seemingly impervious to age, ofAugustus and his family and associates J.J. Pollitt
An official portrait type was devised at Rome of theemperor and of many members of his family. These weredisseminated throughout the empire.
Augustus as Priest
Relaxed contrapposto
Serene countenance andexpression
Toga worn over head in attitude ofsacrifice and prayer
Probably depicts Augustus aspontifex maximus
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Augustus from
Prima Porta, c. A.D. 14
Augustus was almost 76,overweight, bald, andtoothless when he died! This,however, is how the empirecontinued to see him
Depicted in military dress asthe victorious imperator
Breastplate representsmythical and historical events,including a great diplomaticsuccess (the return of Romanstandards by the Parthians)
The small Cupid serves as areminder of the Julian claim ofdescent from Venus throughAeneas
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Ara Pacis The Ara Pacis Augustae
a monumental altar to Augustan Peacededicated in Rome on January 30, 9 B.C.
commemorated the emperor Augustus safereturn in 13 B.C. from his third provincialtour (a second visit to Spain and Gaul)
Golden Age imagery of fertility
indicate that Augustus brought both theblessings of peace and posterity
Both images of Augustus and his family andmythical scenes combine to suggest thatPeace depends upon the imperial family
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A Family Affair
The first regular depiction of women and children The altar was connected not only with Augustus return,
but also with dates associated with close family members
Announced in 13 B.C. when his stepson Tiberius was
consul
Dedicated in 9 B.C. when his stepson Drusus wasconsul
Day of dedication, 20 January, was his wife Liviasbirthday
Ara Pacis
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Cross section sketch of altar (drawing by G. Gatti)
Positions and
themes of Ara
Pacis relief
panels
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Allegorical Earth (or Tellus) panel
Tellus detail
Buxom female figurecould represent theEarth, Ceres, Italy,Peace, or evenAugustus wife, Livia
Note symbols of fertilityand plenty, whichinclude young children,
grain, fruit, animals,poppies, etc.
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Sketch of processional
reliefs in panels abovevegetative motifs (left)
and a close up of the
acanthus leaf and
grape vine carving
Processional Relief
details
Note the prominence ofwomen and children in these
reliefs, which includemembers of Augustus family
portrayed prominently
among the procession of
Roman senators and priests.
Left, Augustus wife Livia. Thealtar was dedicated on herbirthday.
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Cosmic Imagery: The Ara Pacis and
Augustus Horologium
The altar was positioned alongside a carefully laid out sun clock, the dial
of which was an ancient Egyptian obelisk. On Augustus birthday the
shadow pointed to the Ara Pacis, indicating that his birth had usheredpeace into the world.
Augustus Building Program I found Rome built of
bricks; I leave herclothed in marble.Suet. Aug. 28
Forum of Augustus withits temple of Mars theAvenger
Temple of PalatineApollo
His own house on the
Palatine was relativelymodest
Temples, markets, andother public works
throughout Rome
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Forum of Augustus
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Augustan Literature Poetry or Propaganda?
When the rule of Augustus is established, men of letters, a classwhose habit it had been to attack the dominant individual orfaction, appear to have been fervently on the side of thegovernment. . . . It does not follow that that the poets andhistorians who lent their talent to the glorification of the new orderwere merely the paid and compliant apologists of despotism. R. Syme, Roman Revolution, 459.
Many poets and writers patronized by Augustus friend Maecenas
Horace: Golden Age poet,
note esp. his Roman odes
Livy: moralizing historian
Propagator of traditional values, legendary and historicalheroes as exempla
Vergil: author of a nationalistic epic, the Aeneid
Stressed the role of the Julian family