Classics

What was the Roman Republic?

A system of government without a king, where power was shared between elected officials and the Senate.

Who were the consuls?

The two top elected leaders of the Republic who served for one year.

What was the Senate?

A powerful council of wealthy aristocrats that advised the consuls and dominated Roman politics.

What is dignitas?

A person’s honour, reputation and social standing.

What is auctoritas?

Influence and authority that came from respect and achievements.

What is pietas?

Duty and loyalty to the gods, family and Rome.

What is mos maiorum?

“The custom of the ancestors” – the traditional Roman way of doing things.

Who was Julius Caesar?

A Roman general and politician who conquered Gaul, crossed the Rubicon, won a civil war, and made himself dictator for life.

Who was Pompey?

A powerful general who was part of the First Triumvirate and later fought against Caesar.

Who was Crassus?

The extremely rich Roman who formed the First Triumvirate with Caesar and Pompey.

Who was Octavian / Augustus?

Caesar’s adopted son and heir who won the civil wars and became the first Roman emperor.

Who was Mark Antony?

Caesar’s experienced general who later allied with Cleopatra and lost to Octavian at Actium.

Who was Lepidus?

The third and weakest member of the Second Triumvirate, later pushed aside by Octavian.

Who were Brutus and Cassius?

The main leaders of the group that assassinated Julius Caesar.

Who was Cleopatra?

Queen of Egypt and ally/lover of Mark Antony.

Who was Agrippa?

Octavian’s brilliant general and admiral who won the naval victories at Naulochus and Actium.

Who was Sextus Pompey?

Son of Pompey the Great who controlled Sicily until defeated in 36 BCE.

Who was Cicero?

Famous Roman orator and politician killed during the proscriptions.

Who was Fulvia?

Wife of Mark Antony who fought Octavian in the Perusine War.

What was the First Triumvirate?

An unofficial alliance of Julius Caesar, Pompey and Crassus (around 60 BCE).

When did Caesar cross the Rubicon?

49 BCE.

What did crossing the Rubicon mean?

Caesar illegally led his army into Italy, starting civil war against Pompey and the Senate.

What happened after Caesar defeated Pompey?

He made himself dictator for life.

When was Julius Caesar assassinated?

15 March 44 BCE (the Ides of March).

Who led the assassination of Caesar?

Brutus and Cassius.

Where was Caesar assassinated?

In the Theatre of Pompey in Rome.

What did the assassins claim?

That they were saving the Republic from a king.

What was the actual result of Caesar’s assassination?

It caused more civil wars instead of restoring the Republic.

When was the Second Triumvirate formed?

43 BCE.

Who were the members of the Second Triumvirate?

Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus.

What was the Second Triumvirate?

A legal three-man dictatorship created to restore order and defeat Caesar’s assassins.

What were the proscriptions?

Official lists of enemies who could be legally killed and whose property was seized.

What was the order of power in the Second Triumvirate at the start?

Antony was the most experienced, Octavian had Caesar’s name and inheritance, Lepidus was the weakest.

When was the Battle of Mutina?

April 43 BCE.

Who fought at the Battle of Mutina?

Octavian + consuls Hirtius and Pansa vs Mark Antony.

Where was the Battle of Mutina?

Near Mutina (modern Modena) in northern Italy.

What was the Battle of Mutina about?

The Senate and Octavian moved against Antony after he tried to seize power.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Mutina?

Antony was defeated and retreated. Both consuls died. Octavian gained strength and later became consul.

When were the Battles of Philippi?

October 42 BCE.

Who fought at the Battles of Philippi?

Octavian and Mark Antony vs Brutus and Cassius.

Where were the Battles of Philippi?

Philippi in Macedonia (northern Greece).

What were the Battles of Philippi about?

The Second Triumvirate’s campaign to destroy Caesar’s assassins.

What was the outcome of the Battles of Philippi?

Cassius and then Brutus were defeated and both committed suicide. The assassins were destroyed.

How was power divided after Philippi?

Antony took the eastern provinces; Octavian returned to Italy.

When was the Perusine War?

41–40 BCE.

Who fought in the Perusine War?

Octavian vs Lucius Antonius and Fulvia.

Where was the Perusine War?

Perusia (modern Perugia) in central Italy.

What was the Perusine War about?

Antony’s brother and wife challenged Octavian’s control of Italy.

What was the outcome of the Perusine War?

Octavian captured Perusia and strengthened his control over Italy.

When was the Battle of Naulochus?

36 BCE.

Who fought at the Battle of Naulochus?

Octavian’s fleet (commanded by Agrippa) vs Sextus Pompey.

Where was the Battle of Naulochus?

Off Naulochus, north coast of Sicily.

What was the war against Sextus Pompey about?

Sextus controlled Sicily and cut off Rome’s grain supply.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Naulochus?

Agrippa won decisively. Sextus fled and was later killed. Octavian gained Sicily.

What happened to Lepidus after Naulochus?

He tried to claim Sicily and was forced out of the Triumvirate.

When was the Battle of Actium?

2 September 31 BCE.

Who fought at the Battle of Actium?

Octavian (fleet commanded by Agrippa) vs Mark Antony and Cleopatra.

Where was the Battle of Actium?

Actium, western Greece.

What was the Battle of Actium about?

The final struggle for control of the Roman world.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Actium?

Antony and Cleopatra were defeated and fled to Egypt. Octavian effectively won the civil wars.

When did Antony and Cleopatra die?

30 BCE.

How did Antony and Cleopatra die?

Both committed suicide after Octavian invaded Egypt.

What happened to Egypt in 30 BCE?

It became Roman territory.

What was the final result of the civil wars?

Octavian became the sole ruler of the Roman world.

When did Octavian become Augustus?

27 BCE.

What does the title Augustus mean?

“The revered one”.

What does the title princeps mean?

“First citizen”.

What was the Principate?

The system created by Augustus in which one man held real power while keeping the appearance of the Republic.

What was the Pax Augusta?

The long period of relative peace that began under Augustus.

How did Augustus keep power while looking traditional?

He controlled the army and key provinces but allowed the Senate and consuls to continue in name.

Why are Greek vases important?

Almost no Greek wall or panel paintings survive, so painted vases are our best evidence for Greek art, myths and daily life.

What is black-figure technique?

Figures are painted with black slip; details are cut in with a sharp tool (incision); background stays the red colour of the clay.

What is red-figure technique?

The background is painted black; figures are left the natural red of the clay; details are painted with a brush.

What was the main advantage of red-figure technique?

It allowed much more realistic anatomy, movement and detail than black-figure.

Who painted the François Vase?

Kleitias

Who was the potter of the François Vase?

Ergotimos

What is the date of the François Vase?

c. 570 BCE

What technique was used on the François Vase?

Black-figure

What tradition does the François Vase belong to?

Corinthian Miniaturist

What shape/type is the François Vase?

Volute Krater

What is the PDTTT of the François Vase?

Painter: Kleitias | Date: c. 570 BCE | Technique: Black-figure | Tradition: Corinthian Miniaturist | Type: Volute Krater

What is special about the François Vase?

It is covered in many small narrative friezes with over 270 figures and 121 name labels – a masterpiece of the Miniaturist style.

What are the main friezes on the François Vase?

Calydonian Boar Hunt, Funeral Games of Patroclus, Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Achilles pursuing Troilus, Theseus and the Minotaur, Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs, Return of Hephaestus.

Describe the Wedding of Peleus and Thetis frieze on the François Vase

It runs all the way around the vase and shows the gods arriving for the wedding. This marriage leads to the birth of Achilles and eventually the Trojan War.

Describe the Calydonian Boar Hunt on the François Vase

Heroes (including Meleager and Atalanta) hunt the giant boar sent by Artemis – a famous myth of heroism and cooperation.

Describe the Return of Hephaestus on the François Vase

Hephaestus is brought back to Olympus, usually shown riding a donkey and accompanied by Dionysus and satyrs.

Who painted the Lydos Column Krater?

Lydos

What is the date of the Lydos Column Krater?

c. 550 BCE

What technique was used on the Lydos Column Krater?

Black-figure

What tradition does the Lydos Column Krater belong to?

Grand Style

What shape/type is the Lydos Column Krater?

Column Krater

What is the PDTTT of the Lydos Column Krater?

Painter: Lydos | Date: c. 550 BCE | Technique: Black-figure | Tradition: Grand Style | Type: Column Krater

What myth is shown on the Lydos Column Krater?

The Return of Hephaestus to Olympus with Dionysus.

Describe the main frieze on the Lydos Column Krater

Dionysus leads the drunken Hephaestus back to Olympus. They are surrounded by satyrs and maenads in a lively, noisy procession full of movement and humour.

What is the Grand Style?

One large frieze with bigger figures instead of many tiny bands. Artists focused more on mood, movement and composition.

How does Lydos create a sense of movement and revelry?

Figures face different directions, overlap, lift their legs, and show ¾ poses – it looks like a wild party.

Who painted the Exekias Belly Amphora?

Exekias

What is the date of the Exekias Belly Amphora?

c. 540–530 BCE

What technique was used on the Exekias Belly Amphora?

Black-figure

What tradition does the Exekias Belly Amphora belong to?

Grand Style