3.4 War and Peace

Question 1

Who is this by?

Answer 1

Propertius

Question 2

Caesar…

Answer 2

Caesar, our God

Question 3

Plots war…

Answer 3

Plots war against rich India

Question 4

Men, the…

Answer 4

Men, the rewards are great

Question 5

Parthia’s trophies…

Answer 5

Parthia’s trophies will get to know Latin Jupiter

Question 6

Prows expert in…

Answer 6

Prows expert in battle… and armored horses do your accustomed duty

Question 7

And avenge that…

Answer 7

And avenge that disaster of Crassus!

Question 8

I see…

Answer 8

I see Caesar’ axles burdened with booy

Question 9

I’ll begin to…

Answer 9

I’ll begin to look, pressing my dear girl’s breast, and scan the names of captured cities

Question 10

This head…

Answer 10

This head that survives from Aeneas’ line

Question 11

Let the prize…

Answer 11

Let the prize go to those who earn it by their efforts

Question 12

When was War and Peace written and what is its main meaning?

Answer 12

• Written in 20BC
• Emphasises the glory and benefits to Rome of Augustus’ foreign campaigning

Question 13

Caesar, our God:

Answer 13

• Strengthening the idea of Divi Filius
• Elevating Augustus’ status

Question 14

Plots war against rich India:

Answer 14

• Suggests at the positives to war- profit

Question 15

Men, the rewards are great:

Answer 15

• Direct address, encouraging action
• Reasserting the notion that war is a profitable venture

Question 16

Parthia’s trophies will get to know Latin Jupiter:

Answer 16

• Suggesting Parthia will be conquered by Rome

Question 17

And avenge that disaster of Crassus:

Answer 17

• Parthian Empire was responsible for one of Rome’s most humiliating military defeats
• Crassus’ poor strategic leadership in an expedition to take then Parthian city of Seleucia led his army right into ambush
• He was killed alongside 40,000 Roman soldiers and his standards were captured- this had a severe effect on the morale of ordinary Romans
• Shows that Augustus will avenge this military defeat and restore Rome to supremacy

Question 18

I’ll begin to look, pressing my dear girl’s breast:

Answer 18

• Patriotic tone somewhat undercut when it becomes apparent Propertius has no intention of joining the battle
• He’s watching the triumphal procession safe from harm

Question 19

And scan the names of captured cities:

Answer 19

• Suggests abundance, as though Augustus has captured so many cities its difficult to read them all

Question 20

This head that survives from Aeneas’ line

Answer 20

• Reiterates the notion that Augustus was descended from Aeneas
• By referencing divine heritage that links him to the founders of Rome, Propertius presents Augustus as a capable and legitimate leader of Rome

Question 21

Let the prize go to those who earn it by their efforts:

Answer 21

• Suggests Augustus is deserving of victory