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Imperial Image - Imperator Theme - Coggle Diagram
Imperial Image - Imperator Theme
Overview of theme
'Imperator' means general/commander of the legions
It suggests Augustus' military skill and success
It suggests he is a powerful military leader
It suggests he is dutiful, serving Rome's interests
He adopts the title in 37BC, when fighting Sextus Pompeius, a main focus being to show him as a skilled, successful leader
He makes use of comparison with Caesar
Later he emphasises his own victories and claims others' as his own
He minimised failures and maximised victories in propaganda
He also tried to show himself as a conqueror
He defeated his enemies
He expanded the empire
He used war to bring peace
Key aims
To justify his position
He had power as he was stronger than his rivals
To show benefits of his rule
He brought wealth and power to Rome
Suggested possible consequences of his removal
He ended wars and humbled Rome's enemies
Key military events
Battle of Mutina (43BC)
Fought with consuls against Antony.
Won, but the consuls died and Octavian returned to Rome and demanded the consulship
Battle of Philippi (42BC)
Fought with Antony against Cassius and Brutus
Won, but mainly due to Antony as Octavian was ill
Planned to built Temple of Mars Ultor
Victory at Perusia (40BC)
Fought against rebels (Lucius Antony and Fulvia)
Won after sieging Perusia - rumours about immoral behaviour of soldiers though
Battle of Naulochus (36BC)
Fought with Agrippa against Sextus Pompey
Had lost when Octavian was in command, won after Agrippa returned and commanded the forces
Octavian awarded a monument in the Forum, near to the monument to the Punic victory (over Carthage)
Battle of Actium (31BC)
Fought against Antony and Cleopatra
Octavian won as Cleopatra and Antony fled
Battle of Alexandria (30BC)
Fought against Antony and Cleopatra
Octavian won, became sole ruler and added Egypt to the empire
Pacification of the provinces (after 27BC)
Augustus pacified the provinces, putting down rebellions etc
Parthian Campaign (20BC)
'Fought' Rome's main rival, Parthia
Tiberius settled a diplomatic dispute, got Rome's candidate on Armenian throne and had lost Roman standards returned
Roman standards displayed in Temple of Mars Ultor, held triumph to celebrate the 'victory'
German Campaigns (12BC onwards)
Led by Drusus and Tiberius against Germans
Didn't advance very far, mainly had border at the Rhine
Augustus as capable military leader
Proactive
Prima Porta statue - pointing and walking forwards, leading Rome
Res Gestae - 'I raised an army on my own initiative'
Horace's Ode to Cleopatra - 'Pursuing her close as she fled from Rome'
Strong
Strong architectural design in Mausoleum
Muscles on Prima Porta statue
Association with Mars, God of War (Temple of Mars Ultor, depiction on Ara Pacis)
Ovid's Metamorphoses - 'the burden placed upon him alone ... most courageous avenger'
Victorious
Depiction of Roma as goddess of victory on Ara Pacis
Return of the Parthian Standards on Prima Porta statue
He lists his victories in the Res Gestae - 'the war that I won at Actium,' 'I conquered them twice in battle' etc.
Ovid - 'Mutina will sue for peace ... Macedonian Philippi twice flow with blood'
Compared to Caesar who was victorious in 'The Gallic Wars'
Powerful
Size of Mausoleum on the Campus Martius in the political centre of Rome
Links to the gods made clear - Mars, Venus, Divus Iulius etc.
Ovid - 'Earth is ruled by Augustus'
Res Gestae - 'the Senate ... gave me imperium'
Comparison with Caesar
Ovid - 'Caesar acknowledges [his son's good works] are greater than his'
Outdoes Caesar - Temple of Mars Ultor 1.5x larger than Temple of Venus Genetrix
Soldier/warrior
Prima Porta statue wears armour
'Chariot of Augustus' in Augustan Forum
Association with Mars (God of War) and Roma who is dressed ready for battle on the Ara Pacis
Augustus as conqueror
Extending Roman power and influence
Res Gestae - 'I added Egypt to the empire,' 'I extended the limits of all the provinces,' 'Embassies from kings in India were often sent to me; never before that time had they been seen with Roman generals,' 'which no Roman had visited before'
Materials sourced from across the empire for building projects
Forum of Augustus - Numidian marble, Egyptian granite
Mausoleum - Egyptian granite columns
Ovid - 'Earth is ruled by Augustus,' 'even the sea will serve him!'
Scale of his projects suggest his significance
Mausoleum of Augustus - no larger Mausoleum, imposing building in the centre of Rome
Temple of Mars Ultor very large - 1.5x larger than Temple of Venus Genetrix
Depicts conquered provinces in monuments
Sphinxes on the shoulders of Prima Porta statue represent victory over Egypt
He depicts all of the provinces in the Augustan Forum
Augustus depicted himself as pharaoh (wearing double crown of Egypt) on Kalabsha Gate
Benefits of Augustus' rule
Peace
Brings an end to the Civil War (had been ongoing since 108BC)
Ara Pacis Divi Augusti - a Temple of Peace is literally dedicated to Augustus
Peace is achieved through war - progression from Lupercalia and Aeneas on one side to Pax and Roma depicted on the other
Pax coin - produced around the time of the Battle of Actium
Holding an olive branch, represents stability and civilisation
Temple of Janus Quirinus is closed, representing an end to chaos
Had only been closed twice before - 'the Senate voted three times that it should be closed' (Res Gestae)
Prosperity
Pax coin - holding cornucopia ('Horn of Plenty')
Ara Pacis - Pax with babies suggests fertility, cattle represents enough food, vines suggest natural bounty
Depiction of Augustus and Isis on Kalabsha Gate
Augustus holds the symbol for 'fields' - he carries farming, responsible for fertility in Egypt
Association with Isis, goddess of life and rebirth
Wealth
Expensive decoration of monuments
Forum of Augustus - various marbles, gold leaf ceiling
Prima Porta statue - originally bronze (expensive), now Luna marble (expensive) and painted with rich colours (expensive)
Use of marble in Mausoleum and Ara Pacis
Treasures from war
Res Gestae - gave urban plebs 'four hundred sesterces from war booty,' built Forum of Augustus 'from war booty'
Propertius - 'Caesar's axles burdened with booty'
Res Gestae - 'In my triumphs, nine kings or children of kings were led before my chariot'
Roman glory
Horace - 'brought back the standards, at last' - the return of the Parthian standards represented Rome recovering lost glory
Propertius - 'Was the glory of Parthia's spoils worth so much to you'
Potential negative view?
Propertius' Elegy 3.12 (Chaste and Faithful Galla)
'how could you leave Galla crying'
'Your morals deserve a different wife!'
'gifts will not win Galla'
'Galla will outdo Penelope's loyalty'
But could the men returning home to be with their wives be a benefit?
Augustus protects Rome
Res Gestae - 'Four times I helped the treasury with my own money,' 'I freed the whole population from fear and immediate danger [grain shortage],' 'When an army of Dacians crossed to this side, under my auspices it was defeated and crushed'
Horace - 'Pompey, driven from the sea,' 'maddened queen... pursuing her close as she fled from Rome,' 'With Caesar protecting the state, no civil disturbance will banish the peace'
Propertius - 'Celebrate a triumph Rome, and saved by Augustus beg long life for him!'
Given a Golden Shield of Virtue - in part due to him protecting Rome (like a shield)?
Legacy of Augustus
Similarities
Emphasises victory in war
Sardonyx portrays him with a laurel wreath
Sebasteion portrays Augustus with Nike, an eagle (representing legions) and a captured slave
Suetonius refers to his 'great naval victory at Actium'; 'he laid siege to Alexandria ... swiftly capturing the city'
Shows Augustus as a capable warrior
Sardonyx portrays Augustus as muscular
Suetonius says that Augustus 'played the soldier's part ... in the midst of the fighting, he shouldered the eagle of the legion'
Augustus as a conqueror
Sebasteion - one scene depicts a soldier taking a woman as a slave; Augustus is shown with a captured slave; Augustus' legacy seen in Claudius, who is depicted as conquering goddess Britannia
Augustus is experienced
Sardonyx presents him as young but experienced in face, suggesting he is capable and trustworthy
Suetonius notes Augustus' military experiences (e.g. Mutina, Actium etc.)
Link to Julian family origin
Sebasteion has a scene with Aeneas escaping with his family from Troy, with Venus at his side
Differences
More links to divinity
Sebasteion - depicted nude, only gods would be depicted in this way
He was deified after his death
Sardonyx has Augustus with an aegis (usually only worn by Jupiter and Minerva)
Less humble?
Sardonyx has Augustus depicted with a laurel wreath - he was normally careful to be shown without it (after Caesar's death)
Not as much mention of benefits of his wars
Sardonyx seems to focus on his strength and implied divinity
Sebasteion also seems to generally be about divinity and victory - the only benefit is a captured slave
Tacitus seems to hint at Augustus perhaps acting for power - 'Opposition did not exist ... Upper-class survivors found that slavish obedience was the only way to succeed'
Comments about incapability
Suetonius comments on rumours from Antony that 'Augustus took to flight' at Mutina and reappeared 'lacking his horse and cloak'