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A-Level Classical Civilisation

Wallace-Hadrill (Ara Pacis)

Wallace-Hadrill (Ara Pacis)

Augustus echoes the piety of Aeneas

Galinsky (Ara Pacis)

Peace based on world domination

Zanker (Ara Pacis)

The Imagery of lasting Happiness transcended any political reality

Galinsky (Augustus as a God)

Augustan consciously ensured that he wasn’t seen as a God

Galinsky (Restoring religion)

Political turmoil before Augustus led to neglection of public religion like the vacancy of the Priest of Jupiter

Galinsky (Religion and morals)

Survival and protection from gods is equated to moral and pious behaviour.

Horace (Restoring Religion)

You will continue to atone for your sins until you have rebuilt the temples

Suetonius (Forum of Augustus)

The Forum honours the memory of the leaders who raised Rome from obscurity to greatness

Beard and Henderson (Forum of Augustus)

The Forum is the realisation of Politics as Art.

Wallace-Hadrill (Purpose of the Forum of Augustus)

The Forum was not a monument to his own glory, but the conversion of positive feelings about the past

Wallace-Hadrill (Great Wall of the Forum)

Cuts the Forum off from the outside world, creating an undisturbed vision of Augustus

Everitt (Character of Augustus)

Opposites aren’t mutually exclusive, Augustus was devious, untrustworthy, and bloodthirsty, but once he established authority he governed efficiently and justly.

Galinsky (Pater Patriae)

The title Pater Patriae encompassed not just his civic virtues but also his transcendent status

Wardle (Suetonius)

Augustus may have done something once or twice, but Suetonius presents it as his usual habit.

Beard (Res Gestae)

Augustus’ glossy account neglects to mention the murderous illegalities of his early career.

Brunt and Moore (Res Gestae)

What is omitted from the Res Gestae is as important as what is included

Beard (Mausoleum)

The Mausoleum’s early completion was partially a cautionary measure due to health scares, and partially an aggressive assertion of power

Zanker (Purpose of the Forum)

Public buildings were used to make a statement about the immorality of private luxury

Zanker (Roman Art)

The Augustan Era is rightfully called the Golden Age of Roman Art

Tarrant (Metamorphoses)

Ovid is an anti-historian, a reshuffler of data

Habinek (Metamorphoses)

Ovid enjoyed the benefits of the Principate without witnessing the preceding struggles

Harrison (Metamorphoses)

Ovid subverts convention

Jones (Augustus as a Caesar)

Augustus was wise to disassociate himself with Caesar, and ban public worship of himself.

Galinsky (Augustus as a modest man)

Augustus had a modest house to show that he was an ordinary Roman.

Jones (Adoption of Tiberius)

Adopting Tiberius prevented CIvil War

Eck (Pater Patriae)

Pater Patriae was listed at the end of the Res Gestae, thus showing its importance.

Eck (Future Emperors)

Future Emperors lived in Augustus’ shadow

Eck (Secular Games)

The Secular Games were really about Augustus cementing his power and not about tradition

Eck (Augustus as a commander)

Augustus was a dismal military commander

Wells (Augustus as a cruel man)

Augustus gained and retained a reputation for cruelty.

Holland (Augustus as a happy man)

Augustus sacrificed his personal happiness for the good of Rome.

Holland (Exile of the Julias)

By ‘sacrificing’ the Julias, Augustus was setting a moral example to his people

Goldsworthy (Augustus v Caesar)

Augustus once relied on Caesar’s name, but soon surpassed his achievements.

Everitt (Augustus as a traditionalist)

Augustus was a staunch traditionalist

Everitt (Augustus as a military commander)

While he wasn’t an especially good commander, Augustus did manage to keep the loyalty of his legions, which was key to his success.

Everitt (Augustus and Egypt)

Cleopatra was a guise for Augustus’ personal ambitions of conquering Egypt.

Eck (Marriage laws)

Augustus’ marriage laws were not implemented on a moral basis, they were needed to increase birth rates.

Everitt (Livia)

Livia was sensible, respected, intelligent, and supported Augustus discreetly.

Eck (Res Gestae)

The Res Gestae was sent around the Empire to influence opinions worldwide.

Wells (Antony and Civil War)

Antony’s submission to Eastern Culture was enough to justify Civil War to Romans.