31 (27) B.C. &endash; 14 A.D. Augustus,
Rome's first emperor
takes sole power (as Octavian) after defeating Mark Antony and
Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, 31 B.C. (off W. coast of
Greece)
in name, remains a consul; doesn't crown himself king but
calls himself princeps ('elder statesman')
lives modestly, remains deferential to senate, with which
he shares power (Nagle p. 351-352)
Augustus' policies and reforms
expansion of empire's boundaries
reduced size of army but strengthened garrisons in the
provinces; regularized pay and length of service
army support needed to retain power; but control over
army also essential to avoid further civil war
imposition of Roman town plans, conveniences on cities in
empire
at home, encourages people to have chidren, restrict
adultery and luxury
champions old traditional religion and morality;
restores 82 temples
similar values expressed by the poet Horace, who also
reflects fragmentation of old social order, rise of
newcomers, emphasis on private interests as opposed to
the old dedication to public service (Nagle p. 348)
Ovid, on the other hand, wrote bawdy tales and was
sent into exile!
imperial art and literature--propaganda
Augustus claimed to have taken over a city
[Rome] of mud-brick and transformed it into a city
of marble
massive building program, which he described in his
autobiography, Res Gestae ('Things Done')
forum
of Augustus built; old forum rebuilt to give it clear
shape
overhauled drainage system; doubled the water
supply
not all was glorious; lots of poorly built, crowded
apartment blocks
policies, power of Augustus and history of Rome
celebrated by Vergil (70-19 B.C.) in the Aeneid and
other poems
the first half of the Aeneid chronicles the
journey of Aeneas, prince of Troy, who flees at the end
of the Trojan War to Italy and founds Latium; parallels
the Odyssey
the second half chronicles Aeneas' battles against
local tribes in Latium; parallels the Iliad
Aeneas the ideal Augustan hero: "sober, tenacious,
pious, a slave to duty" (Nagle p. 354)
statue of Augustus Primaporta, c. 20 B.C. (for original
bronze; we have copy of early 1st cy. A.D.)
idealized image of specific person
variety of images on breastplate: typical Roman propaganda,
also a combination of ideal and real
current events: a conquered Parthian returning a
standard to a Roman soldier
mythical symbolism: sky god, earth goddess, figures
representing provinces of Spain and Gaul
Cupid (son of Venus) at foot recalls Augustus' claim that
his clan, the Julians, were descended from Aeneas (human son of
Venus)
Greek influence in features, stance (contrapposto),
proportions&emdash;compare Spear-Bearer of Polykleitos
