Res Gestae 21-30 Cooley

(21) When was the temple of Mars the Avenger vowed, and when was it completed? How did its significance shift?

In 42 BC, before the battle of Philippi against the "Liberators." It was completed in 2 BC. It went from being associated with revenge to celebrating the recapture of legionary standards from the Parthians in 20 BC.

What was at one end of the Augustan forum? Which statues stood in the north-west hemicycle? Which statues stood opposite? Which statue was in the middle?

The temple of Mars the Avenger. Aeneas, the Albian kings and the Julians. Romulus and military heroes of Rome. Aug in a triumphal chariot as pater patriae.

Why did Augustus build the theatre of Marcellus?

To complete Caesar's plans for a theatre to rival Pompey's, and to commemorate Marcellus' death (Aug's nephew) in 23 BC.

Why does Augustus mention that he got gifts specifically from Italy? Why is his claim that they gave him gold "generously" slightly misleading?

To emphasis his special relationship with Italy. The "gift" of crown-gold had really become in effect a form of taxation rather than representing a spontaneous expression of support.

Why were games so useful for Augustus?

They were a great way to court the plebs.

Give an example of games Augustus gave in his own name.

In 28 BC to commemorate Actium.

Why did Augustus present games in the names of his potential heirs? Give an example.

To win support for the younger members of his family, and to consolidate the expectation of a dynastic handout of power. A gladiatorial show was given on behalf of Gaius and Lucius in 12 BC.

What was so impressive about having 10,000 men fight in the shows?

This scale was entirely unprecedented.

What was the college of the 15 in charge of? When did Augustus become president?

The conduct of foreign cults at Rome (being in charge of Sibylline books). 17 BC.

What did the ludi saeculares mark? How did Augustus play with it and why?

The beginning of a new saeculum in Rome's history ever 100 years. He made it every 110 years so 17 BC could be celebrated as the start of a Golden Age.

What did the ludi saeculares celebrate? How did Augustus attempt to popularise the leges Iuliae in the games?

The extent of Rome's empire, the divine support of the gods, and the controversial legislation passed in 18 BC. Special prominence was given to the matresfamiliae, who enjoyed their own banquets.

When did Augustus establish the games of Mars?

In 2 BC for the dedication of the temple of Mars the Avenger.

Why was Augustus keen to exhibit exotic animals?

They were a way of the elite showing off, and allowed him to surpass Pompey who had exhibited 600 lions.

Augustus presented 200 lions in the honour of who in AD 12?

Germanicus

(23) What battle was reconstructed for entertainment in 2 BC? Why?

The battle of Salamis between the Athenians and Persians. To inaugurate the temple of Mars the Avenger in the Augustan forum.

What similarities were there between Actium and this battle? Who were seen as the modern day Persians and why did this bolster Augustus' image?

Both represented victory of the west over the east. The Parthians - made Augustus' success in regaining the standards equal to the defeat of Darius and Xerxes.

The grove of the Caesars was dedicated to who?

Gaius and Lucius.

(24) When and why did Augustus protect sacred property in Asia, though it was traditional for Roman generals to seize artworks from conquered towns? Where had Antony seized 3 statues by Myron from, of which Augustus replaced 2?

After Actium bc the province was really poor after being used in the Roman civil war. Augustus wanted to give the province the chance to recover (27 BC). The sanctuary of Hera at Samos

Although this statement focuses on restoration by Augustus, where did he actually seize artworks bc it supported Antony? Why did he always display them in public places?

He seized a statue of Athena from the sanctuary of Athena at Tegea in Arcadia. Antony had plundered artwork from towns which were his allies and treated them as private property - private luxury was deplored whilst public magnificence was laudable.

Why did Augustus melt down the statues which had been offered to him, presumably as thanks for returning plunder to Greece etc?

The large number of statues and their precious material evoked the types of honour more usually associated with kings and so Augustus quickly had to quash it.

(25) Why is Augustus' description of Sextus Pompey as a pirate ironic? Why had he cut off a supply of crucial grain to Rome?

Pompey had rid the Mediterranean of pirates in 40 days in 67 BC, so Aug is being ironic here. He had been proscribed by the triumvirs.

When was he finally defeated and by whom, tho he had been granted the control of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Achaea in 39 BC? What fact about Sextus Pompey does Aug not mention and why?

He was defeated by Agrippa at Naulochus in 36 BC. He omits to say he had the support of several proscribed nobles, so as to present his personal struggle for supremacy into the noble defence of Italy

Why does Augustus stress that he handed over 30,000 slaves to their masters after Naulochus? Does Augustus mention he also recruited slaves to strengthen his army?

Pompey had quashed the slave revolt led by Spartacus, executing 5000 slaves in its final stages. Aug is basically saying here that his achievement is much more impressive. NO.

How can Aug say his troops swore an oath of allegiance tho his claim to imperium was far from clear? Would Antony have exacted a similar oath from his troops?

As a private individual, he was allowed to raise troops with the professed intention of protecting the state in a time of crisis, exacting an oath from them. This was not condemned because he was lucky to emerge as the victor... Yes.

Did the oath apply to citizens as well?

Yes

Which other figure had represented themselves as champion of the Italians? Was this oath voluntary?

Julius Caesar after he crossed the Rubicon. Unclear - Bononia was exempted from taking it, suggesting it might not have been.

Why does Augustus say the Gallic and Spanish provinces etc swore an oath of allegiance to him?

They were the provinces assigned to him as triumvir under the treaty of Brundisium in 40 BC.

What does Augustus' statement that he had the support of 700 senators imply at first sight? What is misleading about it?

It implies he had the support of the whole senate. Membership at the time was massive (1000), and Antony enjoyed the support of several hundred senators.

(26) Why does Augustus say he "extended" the territory?

This suggests that Roman influence was not confined to areas ruled directly by Rome, but extended well beyond the provinces.

When did Augustus conquer the Gallic and Spanish provinces? Could he claim personal success for the subjugation of Germany?

In his campaigns of 27-25 BC. No - much of Germany was conquered by Drusus the Elder and Tiberius

What was the expanse of water known as Ocean known as? What is significant about Augustus' mention of Cadiz?

This was known to flow around the edges of the inhabited world. Alexander wanted to conquer this region but died before he could do so, so this is an implicit claim that Augustus had surpassed Alexander in his achievements.

How did the Romans justify their conquest of the Alpine tribes?

By portraying them as lawless brigands levying tolls in the mountain passes (although the Romans often did this themselves)

Why does Aug constantly say he navigated Ocean?

This continues the theme of the Roman empire being boundless.

What did the Cimbri sent to Augustus as a sign of friendship, according to Strabo?

Their most sacred cauldron, used for collecting blood of prisoners-or-war, and from which prophecies were elicited.

Why does Augustus make the chronological sequencing of the expeditions to Arabia and Aethiopia very vague? Who captured a handful of towns in Aethiopia? When did the Aethipioans send an embassy asking for Roman friendship? Why does Augustus record this particular expedition?

It masks the failure of the Arabian expedition. Petronius. In 21/20 BC. They were thought to live on the margins of the world, and so it shows Aug encompassing the known limits of the world

(27) Why was Egypt so useful for Rome (hence why no senator or equestrian was allowed to go there without permission)?

It was a valuable source of grain for Rome.

Why does Augustus focus on Egypt as a valuable addition to the empire?

So that he could transform what was really the final battle in his civil war against Antony into a war for the benefit of the Roman state

Why was Armenia so important?

It served as a buffer zone between the Romans and the Parthians.

What does Augustus mean when he says he was acting in accordance with his ancestors? Why would he say this?

Pompey had made Armenia a client kingdom when Tigranes II had surrendered to him. Augustus wanted to represent his settlement of Tigranes III on the throne of Armenia as submission of that kingdom to Rome.

Altho Augustus advertises Tiberius' involvement in Armenia, what actually happened?

He shirked the role and retired to Rhodes.

The chronology after Tigranes III's death is confused. What does Augustus not mention when he says he installed Artavasdes as king?

There were rivals, Tigranes IV and his sister Erato. The Parthians supported them and got Artavasdes rejected.

When Tigranes IV died in warfare, who arrived on the scene? Why would this have been a sad moment for Aug to dwell on?

Gaius. Gaius died from hostilites in Armenia.

Who was the last king Augustus tried to impose on Greater Armenia, and why is he vague about his background? What happened to him? Why was it all a big mess for Augustus

Tigranes. He wanted to mask how tenuous Tigranes' family links with Armenia were. He was expelled. He had failed to make Armenia a client kingdom of Rome, and lost Gaius in the process.

Which provinces does Augustus describe as reclaiming next? Why had they mostly been in the hands of kings? Why was Antony seen to have alienated Roman territory?

Those granted to Antony under the terms of the Treaty of Brundisium in 40 BC. Antony had set up a system of client kingdos to create a network of personal allegiances to him through these new dynasties. He gave various parts to his sons.

Why were Sicily and Sardinia described as being part of a slave war?

They had been controlled by Sextus Pompey in a treaty signed by the triumvirs.

(28) Why were colonies founded? What is his emphasis here?

For the settlement of veteran soldiers. The geographical extent of his settlements.

(29) Why does Aug not mention Crassus' regaining of the standards lost to the Bastarnae in 29 BC?

Crassus' success was a challenge.

Is it clear when the standards were lost and regained in Gaul and Spain?

No. We do have a coin with a barbarian on his knees holding out a military standard from 12 BC - this could be in Gaul.

When did Augustus recover the standards from the Dalmatians?

In 35/34 BC

How did Augustus recover the standards lost in Parthia in 53 BC?

Through diplomacy. He said he would give back the son of the Parthian king Phraates IV, who had been given to him by the pretender of the Parthian throne, if they gave back the standards and prisoners of war.

(30) Why was the area of the Balkans occupied by the Pannonian people important strategically?

For buffering Italy against attacks by northern barbarians

Why is Augustus' claim that there was no success in this area before him misleading?

Scipio had conquered the Scordisci near the Danube.

When did Tiberius conquer the region? Does Augustus mention Tiberius' later suppression of the Pannonian revolt in AD 6-9?

12-9 BC. No.

Why does Aug refer to the army as HIS army?

He appropriated it

Did Augustus succeed in subduing the Dacians? In what way did his achievement better that of Julius Caesar?

No - they were just pushed back along the river. Augustus does not claim to have conquered them. Julius Caesar only got as far as planning a campaign against the Dacians and Parthians when he was assassinated.