Augustus Notes Flashcards
Res Publica
A’s Argument for restoration of the republic - common good
Improved life for all
But A. still has all the power
Princeps
Latin - suggests ‘the one’/or ‘the first’.
Linked to Augustus being the first emperor
Often linked to nobility
Triumvir
Alongside Anthony and Lepidus
Made a legal position by a tribune
Glossed over events as a triumvir,
- but does take care to emphasise legality of the position
Consul
Usually two in charge of the senate
Augustus holds one of the positions for 8? years
Republican precedents
Used during the first settlements
- Multiple consulships - Marius 104-100 bc
- multiple provinces - Pompey Lex Gab/Man
- cura annonae - Pompey?
- new name - Pompey MAGNUS, Scipio AFRICANUS
Corona Civica
Don’t know :(
Pontifex Maximus
Religious control/leader
According to Cassius: “they [Emperors] excercise supreme jurisdiction over all matters both profane and sacred”
Cura Annonae
Control of the grain dole
Allows him to set how much the plebs get free
Tribunician power
Allows him to veto anything in senate he doesn’t want them to talk about
Works alongside his senate reforms - streamlined
Censor powers
Allows him to prune the senate on ‘unsavoury characters’
Alongside senate reforms where he goes 1000->600
Pater Patriae
Father of Rome
Statue in the forum of Augustus in the middle
Emphasises his status as the founder of a new era
Second Triumvirate
Anthony, Octavian, Lepidus
Kills Cicero (yay)
Serious proscriptions - Tacitus: land distributions
Actium
Battle of Octavian vs Antony and Cleopatra
When losing Cleopatra flees to protect the ptolemy treasure
Antony doesn’t realise this and then follows her
They both get surrounded in their palace
Then they kill themselves as it’s hopeless
Treaty of Brundisium
Treaty between the triumvirs after the battle of Philippi
Antony gets the East
Octavian gets the west
Lepidus gets Spain and Africa
Res Gestae Positives
Written at the time of the events (contemporary)
Concise (300 Lines)
Shows us his aims for how he wanted to be viewed
Res Gestae Negatives
PROPAGANDA (manipulation)
Does not mention enemies by name
Misses out key early events - eg, Proscriptions
Treaty with Parthians
Alliance made with King Phraates in 30bc
They were weak from internal dissent.
Lost standards from the Battle of Carrhae returned in 20bc
Southern border between Rome and Parthia secured by desert, but northern border a danger.
Senatorial states were under native rule
So Augustus used Armenia as a buffer state.
Regularly sent envoys to Armenia to encourage friendly relationships with the East
Agrippa stayed in the East for 10 years to maintain the border line.
Ara Pacis General Structure
General Structure
Greek style - based on the pantheon friezes
Means altar of peace
Each face reinforces key messages of peace/military glory, Roman republican values and traditions (restoration of the republic), religious values.
Ara Pacis North/South Faces
North and South Walls
- Various groups of people
- Imperial family
- Augustus grandchildren OR children of the world
- His daughter, her husbands, his wife’s sons etc
- Members of the main Collegias in Rome - return to original values and traditions
- Lictors, carrying Fasces (bundle of rods) - stronger together - republican value
- Priests
- Imperial family
Ara Pacis East Faces
East Wall
- Goddess (Italia) sitting with two babies and lots of corn, grain etc around her - symbols of fertility and prosperity - i.e. the benefits of peace time
- Goddess Bellatrix/Roma sitting on a pile of confiscated weapons - messages of enforcing peace through war, partially symbolising Roman military victory - OVID?!
Ara Pacis West Faces
West Wall
- One panel, two interpretations
- one is that it shows Aeneas landing in Italy for the first time - sacrificing a pig to Juno as is tradition for a peace treaty
- other is that it shows the second king of Rome Numa Pompilius?
- Other panel is the lupercal panel
- Shows Romulus and Remus being rescued by the shepherd Faustulus
- Mars is watching the scene
Pax Romana
Peace of Rome
Augustus closes the doors of Janus 3 times during his career
Prima Porta Augustae
Breastplate features
-shows military powers
-GODS GODDESSES?!!!?!?
Other features
-Greek style of full body statue
-wearing a toga symbolises tradition and senatorial power
-stood in oratory pose
-original carved in bronze then replicated in stone later
-dolphin at feet shows link the venus (through the Julian clan)
-cupid on the dolphin again shows divinity
-originally holding the consular baton as a symbol of the elected
Forum of Augustus
Built to deal with overcrowding
Extension on the orignal forum
This extension was mostly temples and statues etc
Eaves - statues depicting scenes of the founders
Aisles - great men from history
- Alban kings?
Nave - Statue of Augustus in his chariot with the words: Pater Patriae (father of Rome)
Temples - Mars, Venus and Zeus inside at the back?
