Imperial Image Key Terms

aureus (pl aurei)

a Roman coin of the late republic and empire, worth 25 silver denarii

mos maiorum

"the custom of the ancestors" or "the way of the ancestors". It refers to the unwritten code of social norms, principles, and customs that governed every aspect of ancient Roman life, encompassing private, political, and military spheres.

triumph

a grand, religious public parade through the city of Rome, awarded by the Senate to a victorious military commander

The Senate

wielded enormous power because of the collective prestige of its members and advised both magistrates (an elected public official who held a degree of power, either judicial or executive, within the state for a year at a time) and the Roman people.

consul

primarily generals whose task it was to lead Rome’s armies in war, pass laws and maintain political relations with other states

tribunes

Any of various military and civil officials in ancient Rome. The most significant power of the tribunes was their ability to veto (or intercede against) actions taken by magistrates and the Senate, protecting plebeian rights and interests

pietas

Embodies respect, loyalty and affection as well as duty towards the Gods, State and Family

furor

a destructive and chaotic state of "frenzied rage," "madness," or "fury," often associated with a loss of reason and uncontrollable passions; represented the opposite of pietas (dutiful devotion), acting as an internal force that could lead to personal obsession, public chaos, and a breakdown of order, civilization, and sworn oaths

co-marketing

The strategy of presenting two distinct things alongside one another for the purpose of impacting the perception of a viewing audience so that when an audience is presented with a well-known thing alongside a less well-known thing, they will transfer what they know about the well-known thing to the less well-known thing. In the case of Octavian, this meant that Apollo’s traits of prophecy, success, healing and knowledge were attributed to him.

matrona

an esteemed married woman of free, noble birth in Ancient Rome, embodying qualities like chastity, modesty, and dedication to her family and household

mores

customs, traditions, and social norms, particularly those established by the ancestors. These unwritten rules guided Roman behavior and were considered essential for the community's good, encompassing moral values, manners, and habits.

The concept is most notably seen in the phrase mos maiorum, meaning "custom of the ancestors”