Res Gestae Divi Augusti

Question 1

What age was Augustus when he was inducted into the Senate?

Answer 1

19

Question 2

What was the usual minimum age for someone to be inducted into the Senate?

Answer 2

30

Question 3

When was the Battle of Mutina? Who did Augustus defeat?

Answer 3

43 BCE
Mark Antony

Question 4

How did Augustus defeating Mark Antony resolve discord within the Senate?

Answer 4

the Senate were afraid that Mark Antony would seize power, just like Julius Caesar.

Question 5

When was the Battle of Philipi? Who was defeated?

Answer 5

42 BCE
Brutus and Cassius

Question 6

Why doesn’t Augustus name Brutus and Cassius?

Answer 6

because it would be perceived as a civil war.

Question 7

How does the line “I spared the lives of all citizens who asked for mercy” help Augustus’ image?

Answer 7

clementia was a key virtue.
augustus pardoning his enemies shows him as a traditional republican and good imperator.

Question 8

Why did Augustus refuse the dictatorship when it was offered to him in 22 BCE?

Answer 8

this was following an assassination attempt and suffering from illness.
he wished to step down as Princeps.

Question 9

What did the role of Princeps Senatus allow Augustus to do?

Answer 9

speak first in the Senate and set its agenda.

Question 10

What are the frater arvalis?

Answer 10

a college of priests that had fallen out of practice.
it was revived by Augustus in his hopes to return to traditional behaviour.

Question 11

Analyse the line “I brought back many exemplary practices of our ancestors which were disappearing in our time,”

Answer 11

embodiment of good values and thus was a role model for Romans.
perhaps refers to the implementation of the Leges Iuliae, which concerned adultery - which had become a problem amongst the upper classes.

Question 12

Why is it signifcant that Augustus refused to become pontifex maximus after Lepidus was exiled?

Answer 12

the position was held for life so, since Lepidus was still alive, he would need to kill Lepidus in order to become pontifex maximus.

Question 13

What aspect of Augustus is emphasised by his donating to the public?

Answer 13

benefactor of the Roman people.

Question 14

Why did Augustus not allow buildings to be named after himself?

Answer 14

he was seen as the humble benefactor, he didn’t want to promote himself by putting his name on buildings.

Question 15

What was the impact of the restoration of the aqueducts? Who ran the restoration programme?

Answer 15

it improved the quality of life for the Romans through reforming public health.
Augustus instrcuted Agrippa to carry out this programme.

Question 16

Why were the Secular Games held?

Answer 16

they were held to mark the beginning of the Golden Age.

Question 17

Explain the impact of the line “I made the sea peaceful and freed it of pirates.”

Answer 17

this legitimises his campaign against Sextus Pompeius as he calls him a pirate, meaning it wouldn’t be perceived as a civil war.
this line is short because Augustus doesn’t was to dwell on past battles, the purpose of the eulogium was to preserve his legacy.

Question 18

Which line in section in 26 emphasises the idea that Augustus only went to war when necessary?

Answer 18

“without waging an unjust war on any people.”

Question 19

What was the impact of Augustus ‘add[ing] Egypt to the empire of the Roman people’ ?

Answer 19

Egypt was a rich and powerful Kingdom with an empire of its own.
he was able to acquire this as a province for the Romans, enhancing their power even further.

Question 20

“I compelled the Parthians to restore to me the spoils”
What is the effect of the verb ‘compelled’ here?

Answer 20

it doesn’t imply the use of threat or force.

Question 21

What is the civic crown?

Answer 21

an oak wreath given to individuals who’d saved the lives of other Romans.

Question 22

Why does Augustus end the Res Gestae with “the whole people of Rome gave me the title of Father of my Country”?

Answer 22

he ends with was he perceives to be his most significant honour.