the changing image of julius caesar

why was it advantageous for augustus to affiliate himself with Julius Caesar in the early part of his career? (44BC-20BC)

• borrowed Julius Caesar’s popularity with the public, especially the army and the poor

• gave him the ability to be seen as a great general

Why was this problematic once he came to power?

• people could think of him as a tyrant/king

• unpopular with politicians

how did he shift his relationship with Julius Caesar and why was this useful?

• From ‘Caesar the man’ to ‘Caesar the god’

• as a god, he was above reproach

• becomes a symbol of divinity

• from 42BC, he had been seen as divine

how was Caesar depicted after Octavian came to power?

• By the star that heralded him as a god during his games

• no physical features

prescribed source: Denarius of Augustus

• date 19 to 18 BC

• Side 1: portrait of Augustus with a laurel wreath

• Side 2: 8-rayed comet with tail pointing upwards

• by an unknown Spanish mint

• Stresses the divine status of JC on one side

• Augustus is portrayed with his religious title

prescribed source: Ovid Metamorphosis (15v745-870) - according to this poem, why did JC become a god?

• he was outstanding in war/peace

• His wars abroad and at home were memorable, but it was the appearance of the comet that made him divine

• He is great because he was the father of Octavian

• He conquered Britain, the Nile and subdued the Numidians under Juba

• He earned triumph but celebrated few

• he may be mortal, but the gods chose him to be one of their own

Venus foresees JC‘s death, but is unable to prevent it. How has she and her family members survived before?

• Venus was attacked by the Greek hero Diomede in the Iliad

• Aeneas was driven to wandering on the seas after the fall of Troy, he had to suffer the wrath of the goddess Juno but overcame. Aeneas died before founding Rome but his son Iulus survived

why does ovid make parallels between Venus, Aeneas and JC?

• it lifts him up to mythological and god-like status

• JC suffered like Aeneas

• JC was killed and Augustus was like Iulus who survived

what bad signs heralded JC’s death?

• Sound of weapons clashing in the clouds

• trumpets and horns

• The face of the sun darkened

• Blood rained from clouds

• Ivory statues wept

• Warning words heard in sacred groves

• Dogs howl around the temple of the gods

what does venus do to try and help JC?

• she tries to hide him in a cloud

• in the iliad, both paris and aeneas were rescued by aphrodite (venus)

what is jupiter’s will that augustus should do?

• avenge his fathers death

• make mutina sue for peace

• phillipi will flow with blood (defeat of brutus and cassius)

• sextus pompey will be defeated in sicilian waters

• any habitable land will be his, even the sea

how will augustus be remembered in the world?

• bringing peace

• turn his mind to the civil mode and make laws

• direct morality by his own example

• he will have a son take his name and responsibilities. he will enter the stars when he is old and has merited it