SKIDMORE HI 363 - Lecture Notes - Triumvirate to Principate

Unformatted text preview:

Triumvirate to Principate 185 Octavian celebrated three triumphs on three successive days. 13,14,15 August 29 BC. Various sources name the triumphs: the official record (see N2c) actually omits the middle triumph. Virgil (638, line 714) has Octavian's triple triumph depicted amongst scenes from Roman history on Aeneas' mwcal shield. RG 4.1 mentions the triple triumph and the refusal of further triumphs. Suetonius describes the triumphs as being for Dalmatia, Actium, Alexandria (Augustus 22.1). Twenry years: Livy counts from January 49 BC when Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon to Octavian's capture of Alexandria in August 30 BC. H17 Triumphal arch?, 29 BC, Rome, Roman Forum The Senate and People of Rome (set this up) in honour of Imperator Caesar, son of the Deified, consul five times, designated consul for a sixth time, imperator seven times, to commemorate the preservation of the state. 17=ILS81] This large inscription (9 ft long, 2 ft high, and 3 ft deep, found in the 16~ century near the temple of Castor, but subsequently lost) may come from the'triple arch to the south of the temple of the Deified Julius (See K14). This probably celebrated Octavian's triple triumph (see H16) but was perhaps subsequently modified to commemorate his recovery of the legionary standards from the Parthians too. The settlement of 28-27 BC (H18-H25) This has been widely discussed, both in terms of what exact powers Augustus relinquished and assumed, and in terms of what he wished to present as taking place. See for example, Syme, Roman Revolution 313-330; Brunt & Moore, Res Gesrae Divi Augusri 8-10,75-77; CAH X2 76-79, 113-1 17. The most important source is, of course, what Augustus himself wrote at Res Gesrae 34. Dio 53.1-20 gives a narrative account, but one inevitably influenced by over 200 years of hindsight. His conclusions are more or less the opposite to the picture presented by Augustus of giving back power. 'In this way all the power of the people and senate passed to Augustus and from then was established what, to speak accurately, is monarchy.' Two main points should be noted. Fitly that Augustus was in reality no less 'master of everything' after 27 BC than before. Secondly, that despite this reality, Augustus felt that presentation mattered: the wish to draw a line under the triumvirate, civil war, and Octavian is clear; but equally the fate of Julius Caesar, who had seemed not even to think the fa~ade of traditional government worth preserving (see, for example, Suetonius Julius 76-79) must have made Augustus realise that a republican spin was worthwhile, not least perhaps in allowing members of the governing class to feel they could continue to serve theprinceps with honour (see, for example, H42). Obv.: Head of Octavian right, wearing laurel wreath. IMP CAESAR DIVI F COS VI (Commander Caesar, Son of the Deified, consul for the sixth time) Rev.: Octavian, seated left on magistrate's chair (sella cumlis) wearing toga, holding out scroll in right hand; magistrate's document container (scrinium) on ground to left. LEGES ET IVRA P R RESTITVIT (He has restored to the Roman People their laws and rights) [BM CM 1995.4-1.11186 Triumvirate to Principate This unique coin is one of the most important new pieces of evidence relating to Octavian's rise to supreme power. Probably made in the province of Asia, it shows Octavian wearing the laurel wreath awarded to him for his triple triumph of 29 BC. The reverse legend proclaims his restoration of the laws and the constitutional rights of the Roman People. He is depicted as consul, handing over a document scroll to an unseen recipient, perhaps in the very act of restoration. This coin reveals that the constitutional settlement was already being proclaimed as complete in 28 ec. HI9 Division of Empire into two This passage is continued in M2. For when his country entrusted. him with the pre-eminent position in its governance and he became supreme ruler for life in war and in peace, he divided the whole empire into two parts. One he assigned to himself, the other to the people of Rome. For himself he took all those areas that still needed a military ganison. [Strabo, Geography, 17.3.251 H20 The civic crown (27 BC) (In civil wars) The Senate has made no grant of a laurel wreath to anyone, nor indeed has anyone desired it when a section of the state was in mourning. But the grant of the civic crown of oak-leaves is a different matter. Then hands are eagerly stretched out to receive an honour which is awarded for saving the lives of fellow- citizens. Thus the door-posts of the house of Augustus triumphantly declare his glory for ever. [Valerius Maximus, 2.8.71 laurel wreath: symbolised a triumph (see note on H21). civic crown: on this award, see note on H14. Augustus was given this award, widely commemorated (e.g. C5, H21, H23, H32, RG 34.2) for saving the lives of fellow-citizens in general by bringing an end to civil war. H21 Civic crown: aureus, 27 BC Obv.: Bare head of Augustus right. CAESAR COS VII CIVIBVS SERVATEIS (caesar, consul for the seventh time, for saving the citizens) Rev.: Eagle, wings spread, standing on oak-wreath; two laurel branches behind. AVGVSTVS 1 S C (Augustus, by decree of the Senate) [RIC Augustus 277, BMC Augustus 6561 In one symbolically packed design centred on the eagle, the bird of Jupiter, a powerful allusion to Augustus' position of supremacy, the reverse of this coin refers to many of the privileges granted in January 27 BC: the name Augustus; the civic crown; the right to have laurel branches (associated with victory and the god Apollo) before the entrance to his house. The letters S C (by decree of the senate) refer to the Senates' grant of these exceptional honours, not to the issue of the coin.Triumvirate to Principate 187 H22 'Augustus' 27 BC When Gaius Caesar had established the peace and re-imposed order in the provinces, he was given the cognomen Augustus. The sixth month, Sextilis, was re-named August in his honour. [Summary of Livy 1341 The name 'Augustus' was decreed 16 January 27 BC according to the calendars (C7; C40 and RG 34.2; Suetonius, Augusrus 7.2; Velleius 2.91.1). On the naming of the month, Dio 55.6.6 agrees with Censorinus (H36) in giving the year as 8 BC. Presumably the summariser mistook a digression by Livy for notice of the actual event. H23 Ovid, Fasti on the name 'Augustus' Upon the Ides in great Jove's shrine the priest, well-purified, Offers the entrails


View Full Document

SKIDMORE HI 363 - Lecture Notes - Triumvirate to Principate

Download Lecture Notes - Triumvirate to Principate
Our administrator received your request to download this document. We will send you the file to your email shortly.
Loading Unlocking...
Login

Join to view Lecture Notes - Triumvirate to Principate and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or
We will never post anything without your permission.
Don't have an account?
Sign Up

Join to view Lecture Notes - Triumvirate to Principate 2 2 and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or

By creating an account you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use

Already a member?