Augustus and the Early Empire Assassination of J. Caesar Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars (excerpt) Who will rule after Julius Caesar? Marc Antony A brilliant soldier; J. Caesar s top lieutenant; popular w/ Roman populace. Octavian Grandnephew & adopted son of J. Caesar Strengths = determination, Caesar s name & $$, timing, shrewdness Weaknesses =Unhealthy, inexperienced, young 1
How will Augustus avoid Caesar s fate? He is clearly the dominant figure in Rome by 31 BC; and he knows Rome is close to more civil war. Yet he does not want to be king or dictator Solution: Renovate > Innovate Find traditional ways to cloak his power Octavian s solution: the Principate Imperator: supreme military commander Princeps: First citizen Pater patriae: Father of the fatherland Pontifex maximus: chief priest Tribune-for-life Control of provincial appointments Control of state finances Praetorian Guard Adoption of the name Augustus What s in a statue? Cuirass = military authority Ad locutio gesture = rhetorical authority Cupid = familial authority (Aeneas) 43.105, Carlsmith, Pose 10/01/2010 = pseudo-greek 2
What role is Augustus assuming in each pose? How did Augustus control Rome? Appearance of deferring to the Senate Colonies of foreign soldiers and Romanization of provinces Traditional Roman family values/virtues (e.g., Julia) Religion Deification, Rome and Augustus Sponsored poets, playwrights Virgil, Horace (but not Ovid) Bread and Circuses (public amusement) Gladiators, horse races, public baths Primary Sources about Augustus Augustus himself Suetonius Tacitus DioCassius Archaelogical artifacts Law codes Art/Architecture 3
Roman Empire under Augustus Noble, p. 176 The problem of the succession The problems: the princeps was not a specific office, but a combination of prestige, military authority, religious aura. Augustus outlives his adopted son Marcellus, his son-in-law Agrippa, his grandsons Lucius and Gaius, leaving him with only his stepson Tiberius. Romans are still opposed to hereditary monarchy. Solution: adopt another man as son. Julio-Claudian Dynasty (14-68 AD) 14-37 CE: Tiberius (murdered by) 37-41: Caligula (murdered) 41-54: Claudius (murdered by the mother of) 54-68: Nero (murdered) 4
The image cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again. Pax Romana/Roman Peace (1 st & 2 nd c. AD) Five Good Emperors (96-180) Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius Silver and Golden Ages of literature Economic growth Sturdy border defense and peace Mass citizenship Romanization Language, army service, architecture, Roman Culture Sport Gladiators, chariot racing Literature/History Virgil, Horace, Tacitus, Livy Religion Paganism, Imperial Religion & Deification of Emperors, Christianity, Mystery Religions Gladiators in Rome What do you already know? 5
Types of Gladiators Retiarius, & Lanista Secutor Types of Gladiators Bestiarus (low relief) Thracian (mosaic) History & Purpose of Gladiatorial Games Originated as funeral games (264 BC) to honor ancestors J. Caesar offered 320 pairs in silver armor, in 65 BC Held in amphitheatres, arenas, and even the Circus Maximus to allow for crowds gladius = sword Gladiators = mix of criminals, POWs, slaves, mercenaries. Infamis. Oaths: uri, vinciri, verberari, ferroque necari (I will endure to be burned, to be bound, to be beaten, and to be killed by the sword) Ave Caesar! Mortuturi te salutamus! (Hail, Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!) 6
Gladiators today 7