Augustan RomeAugustan Rome

1.1. Iulius Caesar: The Creation of a MythIulius Caesar: The Creation of a Myth2.2. The Imagery of the New RegimeThe Imagery of the New Regime

3.3. The Image of Augustus as the New The Image of Augustus as the New RomulusRomulus

4.4. The Birth of the Imperial CultThe Birth of the Imperial Cult

The creation of a mythThe creation of a myth

Gaius Iulius CaesarGaius Iulius Caesar Image created by AugustusImage created by AugustusPerpetuated by subsequent Perpetuated by subsequent

HistoriansHistoriansPerpetuated by Renaissance Writers:Perpetuated by Renaissance Writers:

MachiavelliMachiavelliDanteDanteShakespeareShakespeare

The Ides of MarchThe Ides of MarchMarch 15 – 44 BCMarch 15 – 44 BC

Iulius Caesar murdered by Cassius and Iulius Caesar murdered by Cassius and BrutusBrutus

Caesar’s will names his grand nephew Caesar’s will names his grand nephew Gaius Octavius as heirGaius Octavius as heir

Adopted son perpetuates Adopted son perpetuates gens gens and and nomen nomen of of the Iuliithe Iulii

inherits wealth and inherits wealth and clientela clientela Gaius Iulius Gaii Filius calls himself C. Gaius Iulius Gaii Filius calls himself C.

Caesar son of Iulius OctavianusCaesar son of Iulius Octavianus

Caesar’s MemoryCaesar’s Memory

Appearance of CometAppearance of CometThe Star (The Star (sidussidus) of Julius ) of Julius Deification of Iulius CaesarDeification of Iulius CaesarYoung Caesar becomes Young Caesar becomes divi filius, divi filius, the the

son of the divine Juliusson of the divine JuliusThereby elevates his own statusThereby elevates his own status

Denarius 12 BCDenarius 12 BC: :

Augustus places star Augustus places star on a statue of on a statue of Julius CaesarJulius Caesar

Sidus IuliumSidus Iulium

Young Caesar and AntonyYoung Caesar and Antony

Young Caesar (Octavian – the future Young Caesar (Octavian – the future Augustus) exploited pessimistic mood of Augustus) exploited pessimistic mood of late Republiclate Republic

After century of civil wars Romans After century of civil wars Romans pessimistic, many believed that what pessimistic, many believed that what plagued Rome was caused by neglect of plagued Rome was caused by neglect of gods and customs of ancestorsgods and customs of ancestors

Exploited tha prophecies of a new golden Exploited tha prophecies of a new golden age and a savior existed throughout the age and a savior existed throughout the Mediterranean world Mediterranean world

Livy, Ab Urbe Condita - Praefatio

“My wish is that the reader will pay the closest attention to the following: how men lived, what their moral principles were, under what leaders and by what measures at home and abroad our empire was won and extended; then let him follow in his mind how, as discipline broke down bit by bit, morality at first foundered; how it next subsided in ever greater collapse and then began to topple headlong in ruin – until the advent of our own age, in which we can endure neither our vices nor the remedies needed to cure them.”

The Exploitation of Religious The Exploitation of Religious ImagesImages

Octavian exploited the general mood in order to Octavian exploited the general mood in order to get rid of Antony, his final rival and to build up his get rid of Antony, his final rival and to build up his own image as the savior of Rome who would own image as the savior of Rome who would inaugurate a new Golden Age – as a healer inaugurate a new Golden Age – as a healer likened himself to Apollo; as a new founder of likened himself to Apollo; as a new founder of Rome (a new Romulus)Rome (a new Romulus)

Antony in charge of Eastern part of Roman Antony in charge of Eastern part of Roman Empire enjoyed a life of luxuryEmpire enjoyed a life of luxury

Liked wine, women, likened himself to Dionysos Liked wine, women, likened himself to Dionysos (Bacchus); (Bacchus);

This image exploited by Octavian as This image exploited by Octavian as representative of all the negative and corruptive representative of all the negative and corruptive aspects associated with the East aspects associated with the East

Mark AntonyMark Antony

Married Cleopatra while married in Married Cleopatra while married in Rome to OctaviaRome to Octavia

Made parts of Empire gifts to Made parts of Empire gifts to Cleopatra and her childrenCleopatra and her children

Allowed Octavian to destroy the Allowed Octavian to destroy the Roman´s sympathy for Antony Roman´s sympathy for Antony

The end of AntonyThe end of Antony

Octavian used ideology and imagery in Octavian used ideology and imagery in literature and visual arts to destroy Antonzliterature and visual arts to destroy Antonz

Created image of Antony as a man hostile Created image of Antony as a man hostile to Italian traditions and values who to Italian traditions and values who betrayed Rome´s interests to his mistress betrayed Rome´s interests to his mistress - the queen of Egypt - Cleopatra- the queen of Egypt - Cleopatra

East and Antony represented East and Antony represented luxuria luxuria – – held responsible for Rome´s moral decline held responsible for Rome´s moral decline and the civil warsand the civil wars

Young Caesar´s new imageYoung Caesar´s new image

Likened himself to Apollo, who stood Likened himself to Apollo, who stood for a new beginning and healer.for a new beginning and healer.

revival of and pride in Italian revival of and pride in Italian traditions, values that had once traditions, values that had once made Rome greatmade Rome great

Use of myth, exploited connection to Use of myth, exploited connection to divine ancestress of Julian line: Venus divine ancestress of Julian line: Venus

The Image of Augustus

A new Romulus

Augustus the new RomulusAugustus the new Romulus His victory over Antony provided Octavian with absolute His victory over Antony provided Octavian with absolute

political dominancepolitical dominance Now official title Now official title imperator Caesarimperator Caesar no longer adequate for his no longer adequate for his

exceptional status exceptional status Proposals made to call himself Proposals made to call himself RomulusRomulus after founder of Rome after founder of Rome ProblemsProblems: sounded too regal and had association with : sounded too regal and had association with

fratricide, and in one tradition Romulus had been murdered. fratricide, and in one tradition Romulus had been murdered. Alternative proposal: Alternative proposal: Imperator Caesar AugustusImperator Caesar Augustus Name indicates he was uniquely favoured by the gods for his Name indicates he was uniquely favoured by the gods for his

service for Romeservice for Rome Story told: during campaign for first consulship in 43 BCE, six Story told: during campaign for first consulship in 43 BCE, six

vultures appeared, when he was elected, six more appearedvultures appeared, when he was elected, six more appeared Auspices echoed myth of Romulus - indicating he too would Auspices echoed myth of Romulus - indicating he too would

(re)found Rome(re)found Rome

The title ‘Augustus’The title ‘Augustus’

Augustus (venerable)- name previously used for Augustus (venerable)- name previously used for places consecrated by places consecrated by augures augures

Evoked favour of gods and auspicy that marked Evoked favour of gods and auspicy that marked the founding of Romethe founding of Rome

But politically correct: it did not suggest regal But politically correct: it did not suggest regal status status

Romulus prominent in religious imagery of Romulus prominent in religious imagery of AugustusAugustus

He rebuilds temples of He rebuilds temples of Quirinus inQuirinus in 16 BCE – 16 BCE – (Quirinus is identified with Romulus) (Quirinus is identified with Romulus)

Augustus and the CityAugustus and the City

Restructures cityRestructures city Servius Tullius (the 6Servius Tullius (the 6thth king) is attributed with king) is attributed with

having divided city into 4 districts (having divided city into 4 districts (vicivici = wards) = wards) Each Each vicus vicus at crossroads had shrines to the Lares, at crossroads had shrines to the Lares,

annual sacrificesannual sacrifices Augustus divided Rome into 14 districts and 265 Augustus divided Rome into 14 districts and 265

wards (in 7 BC)wards (in 7 BC) Cults transformed – into cults of Cults transformed – into cults of Lares AugustiLares Augusti and and

Genius Augusti Genius Augusti To existing festival of Lares on May 1, Augustus To existing festival of Lares on May 1, Augustus

added celebration on August 1, when magistrates added celebration on August 1, when magistrates took officetook office

Birth of the Imperial CultBirth of the Imperial Cult

Lares Lares = household gods, ancient but obscure deities, = household gods, ancient but obscure deities, ancient writers thought them to be deified spirits of the ancient writers thought them to be deified spirits of the dead.dead.

The The Lares AugustiLares Augusti would be the emperor’s ancestors would be the emperor’s ancestors The The Genius AugustiGenius Augusti, the spirit of Augustus himself., the spirit of Augustus himself. These new public wards had public cults that were These new public wards had public cults that were

previously private cults of Augustus and his family located previously private cults of Augustus and his family located inside his houseinside his house

these public cults gave the emperor a place throughout these public cults gave the emperor a place throughout the city of Rome. Shrines continued throughout the third the city of Rome. Shrines continued throughout the third century CE. century CE.

Cults permanently reoriented Roman religion under the Cults permanently reoriented Roman religion under the Empire with focus on the Emperor and Imperial Empire with focus on the Emperor and Imperial familiafamilia

Augustan programs of religious Augustan programs of religious and moral renewal and moral renewal

Religious revivalReligious revival: repaired and rebuilt temples, : repaired and rebuilt temples, built the built the ara pacisara pacis (altar of peace) (altar of peace)

Revived old priesthoods; sought a return to Revived old priesthoods; sought a return to archaic values (archaic values (mos majorummos majorum = customs of the = customs of the ancestors)ancestors)

Moral revival:Moral revival: adultery laws, encouragement of adultery laws, encouragement of marriage and production of children with set of marriage and production of children with set of rewards and penalties, rewards and penalties,

Sought to discourage the upward social mobility of freedmen ; was concerned with reproduction of the senatorial order

Redefined and strengthend social hierarchy, i.e. Redefined and strengthend social hierarchy, i.e. senators not allowed to marry freedwomen or senators not allowed to marry freedwomen or infamainfama (actresses and daughters of actors etc.) (actresses and daughters of actors etc.)

The Re-Founding of Rome

Augustus fashioned himself as the savior of the Republic and the second founder of Rome

monumentalized Rome (i.e. Temples, Roads, Aqueducts, Monuments etc.)

Augustan ideology/propaganda displayed in the physical transformation of the city

Myth and religious piety an integral part of Augustan ideology; Aeneas a critical symbol of the regime

The Forum of Augustus

http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/forumaugplan.jpg

The Ara Pacis (9 BCE)

www.vroma.org/images/jwalker_images/index.html

The Ara Pacis:Aeneas Sacrificing to the Penates

http://www.vroma.org/images/scaife_images/009b.jpg

The Literature of the Augustan Age

Augustan Age (27 BCE – 14 CE) considered the golden age of Latin literature (i.e. Virgil, Horace, Ovid)

Much of the literature of this period reflected certain aspects of the Augustan agenda and ideology

The greatest writers were more or less directly connected to the Augustan regime

C. Clinias Maecenas (70 – 8 BCE)

Close friend, advisor, and political ally of Augustus

Understood the power of literature to persuade hearts and minds

Wealthy patron of the artsPatron of Virgil (70 BCE-19 BCE),

author of the Aeneid, Rome’s national epic

An Optimistic AgeVirgil, Eclogue 4

Now the last age by Cumae's Sibyl sung has come and gone, and the majestic roll of circling centuries begins anew: justice returns, returns old Saturn's reign, with a new breed of men sent down from heaven. Only do thou, at the boy's birth in whom the iron shall cease, the golden race arise, befriend him, chaste Lucina; 'tis thine own Apollo reigns. And in thy consulate, this glorious age, O Pollio, shall begin, and the months enter on their mighty march. Under thy guidance, whatso tracks remain of our old wickedness, once done away, shall free the earth from never-ceasing fear. He shall receive the life of gods, and see heroes with gods commingling, and himself be seen of them, and with his father's worth reign o'er a world at peace. For thee, O boy, first shall the earth, untilled, pour freely forth her childish gifts, the gadding ivy-spray with foxglove and Egyptian bean-flower mixed, and laughing-eyed acanthus. Of themselves, untended, will the she-goats then bring home their udders swollen with milk, while flocks afield shall of the monstrous lion have no fear. Thy very cradle shall pour forth for thee caressing flowers. The serpent too shall die, die shall the treacherous poison-plant, and far and wide Assyrian spices spring. But soon as thou hast skill to read of heroes' fame, and of thy father's deeds, and inly learn what virtue is, the plain by slow degrees with waving corn-crops shall to golden grow, from the wild briar shall hang the blushing grape, and stubborn oaks sweat honey-dew. (Trans. J. B. Greenough.)