Augustus: Religion, Morality, and Building Programs

AUGUSTUS

RELIGION, MORALITY, BUILDINGS

  • Tellus relief from the Ara Pacis.

Introduction

  • Respect for Religion
  • Moral Reforms
  • Building Programs
  • Augustus the God

Respect for Religion

  • Rome had just come through a period of terrible civil war.
  • Augustus blamed the fact that Rome had ignored many of her Gods.
  • Temples had fallen into disrepair, and some priesthoods remained empty and forgotten.
  • By reviving these, Augustus would bask in Rome's return to prosperity.

Building Programs

  • The religious revival was linked to the rebuilding of temples.
  • A great city with beautiful buildings would reflect the prosperity of the Empire.
  • Augustus would be the one credited for this newfound prosperity.
  • Evidence of it would constantly be in people's view and therefore minds.

Moral Reforms

  • Augustus was glorified by writers of the day for his part in the moral reforms of Rome.
  • The stability of Rome rested on the stability of its families.
  • The Empire needed more and more men of good birth to govern it.
  • Augustus' reforms set out to stop the moral decay, put the importance back on the family, and increase the birth rate.

Augustus the God

  • Julius Caesar had been made a god after he had been assassinated.
  • Augustus was the son of a god: divi filius.
  • There were therefore examples of mortals being made into gods.
  • Augustus resisted any attempts for himself to be worshipped as a god.
  • Yet at the same time, he knew the propaganda value of his name being connected to divinity.

Religious Reforms

Why Have Reforms?
  • The civil wars of the first century BC had been a major calamity for Rome:
    • Marius versus Sulla
    • Pompey the Great versus Caesar
    • The Triumvirs fighting the conspirators at Philippi
    • The war at Perusia
    • Wars against Sextus Pompeius and the ensuing famine
    • Octavian versus Antony
  • Thousands of men had lost their lives.
  • Many buildings and temples lay in near ruin.
  • Rome's lack of Pietas had contributed to the civil wars.
  • Augustus blamed this situation for the fact that Rome had strayed from her proper path.
  • The gods had been ignored.
  • Statues of the gods stood uncleaned.
  • Priesthoods had failed to be filled.
  • Therefore, Rome was being punished.
  • If the temples were rebuilt, and empty priesthoods were once more filled, then the gods would smile on Rome again.
The Value for Augustus
  • Rome was now entering a period of peace and stability.
  • With stability would come prosperity.
  • As leader, Augustus would be seen to be responsible for this peace and prosperity.
  • Rome's success would be seen to be due to the gods' goodwill towards Rome.
  • This goodwill of the gods would be seen as due to Augustus' reforms.
  • Among priesthoods which were revived were the Avral Brethren and the Flamen Dialis (Priest of Jupiter).
Augustus Becomes Pontifex Maximus
  • In 12 BC Augustus became Pontifex Maximus.
  • The position was for life.
  • The previous Pontifex Maximus had been Lepidus.
  • Although defeated by Augustus, he had been allowed to remain alive in retirement with his priesthood.
  • Despite the fact that many had urged Augustus to kill him and take the title.
  • Augustus knew that to kill the Pontifex Maximus would be a terrible sacrilegious act.
  • Lepidus had died in 13 BC.
Some of the Priesthoods Held by Augustus
Pontifex Maximus
  • He was the head of the college of Pontiffs and the chief priest of Rome.
  • Organized the religious calendar and decided which days should be holy days.
  • Looked after the Vestal Virgins.
  • As chief priest of Rome, he was responsible for Rome's relationship with her gods.
  • He was responsible for instructing others how to conduct their religious activities.
Augur
  • Augurs interpreted signs; literally bird watchers.
  • They would interpret the will of the gods, and therefore a very powerful political position.
  • An Augur could determine if the gods were happy or not with various paths Rome might be taking.
  • Augustus eventually held all the priesthoods for life.
Fetiales
  • These priests were responsible for the declaration of war or making peace treaties.
  • As Fetiales, Augustus declared war on Egypt.
Quindecimvir
  • Supervised the foreign cults in Rome.
  • He suppressed "barbarous" foreign cults such as the Cult of Serapis and the Druids.
  • Consulted the Sibylline books.

Honours to Augustus: His Own Statements

  • Augustus held various religious positions, including Pontifex Maximus, augur, quindecimvir for sacrifices, septemvir for sacred banquets, Arval Brother, sodalis Titius, and fetialis.
  • The Senate decreed that every fifth year, vows should be undertaken for his health by the consuls and priests, with games often held in his lifetime.
  • Citizens and municipalities performed continued sacrifices for his health at the couches of the gods.
  • Augustus declined to be made Pontifex Maximus while Lepidus was still living, but accepted it after Lepidus's death.
  • The Senate consecrated an altar to Fortuna Redux at the Porta Capena in honor of Augustus's return from Syria in 19 BC and named the day Augustalia.
  • After Augustus returned from Spain and Gaul in 13 BC, the Senate voted to consecrate an altar of the Augustan Peace by the Campus Martius.
  • The altar to Fortuna Redux was instated to mark Augustus's safe return from Syria in 19 BC.
  • The altar of the Augustan Peace was established to celebrate peace following successful operations in Spain and Gaul.

Other Activities by Augustus

Closed the Temple of Janus
  • The Temple of Janus was a small bronze shrine in the forum with doors on the eastern and western sides.
  • In times of war the doors stood open, and in times of peace were closed.
  • Augustus claimed to have closed the doors of Janus three times.
Celebrated the Secular Games
  • Ludi Saeculares, celebrated by Augustus in 17 BC.
  • Originally celebrated in the hope of bringing an end to some public misfortune or distress.
  • They symbolized the end of one age and the beginning of another.
  • Meant to be celebrated every hundred years.
  • The timing of the games was very important for Augustus as he adopted his grandsons Gaius and Lucius the same year.
  • As Quindecemvir he presided over the games.
  • Horace wrote a special poem for the event which praised the achievements of the new order.
  • He performed the nocturnal sacrifices to the gods of the underworld by himself.
  • The staging of the games at this time coincided with the return of the Julian comet and new measures on morality such as chaperones for adolescents at nocturnal events.
Other Activities
  • As Septemvir, Augustus organized public banquets for the gods.
  • He instituted the Games of Mars.

Augustus' Building Programs

  • One of Augustus' most famous boasts, according to Suetonius, is that he found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble.
  • In 28 BC, he restored no less than 82 temples.
  • Augustus was very proud of his building achievements.
Why Did Augustus Rebuild Rome?
  • Rome was a great city, the center of a mighty empire, and its buildings should reflect this.
  • The many building programs also provided work for the large number of veterans no longer in the army.
  • The rebuilding of the temples was linked to Augustus' religious reforms and to his pietas.
  • Propaganda value: It showed how Rome had prospered, there was now peace and prosperity under the leadership of Augustus, and Augustus was the patron of the Roman people.
  • It was important that they lived in a city that was safe and well equipped with public buildings.
Some of the Temples Built by Augustus
  • Temple of Quirinus: Quirinus was Romulus as a divinity. It linked Augustus with the founder of Rome and showed Augustus to be the new founder of Rome.
  • Temple to Magna Mater: This goddess had come to Rome two centuries before, and only now was a temple built for her. It showed the connection between Rome and Troy; and therefore between Augustus and his ancestor Aeneas.
  • Temple to Jupiter Libertas
  • Temple to Jupiter Tonans
  • Temple to Apollo: On the Palatine hill near Augustus' own house. Augustus was the guardian of Actium and credited Apollo with helping him win the victory at Actium.
  • Temple to Vesta: Showed that Augustus was interested in the family and family values. Also temples to the Lares and Penates.
  • Temple to the deified Julius: Remind the people that he was divi filius.
Some Other Public Buildings
  • He finished the Julian Forum, begun by Julius Caesar. It included a temple to Venus the god of the Julian family.
  • Basilica Julia: A large public building in the Forum used for trade, finance, and legal matters.
  • He rebuilt the Senate House (The Curia Julia).
  • In 2 BC he built the Forum Augustus, which included public buildings and the Temple of Mars, creating more space in the center of the city for the citizens of Rome.
Temple of Mars Ultor
  • Was set up in the Forum of Augustus.
  • It was dedicated to the war god Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger).
  • Augustus had promised to build this temple if Mars helped him avenge the murderers of his father at Philippi.
  • It had a number of different uses:
    • Young men who were entering into manhood should perform the appropriate sacrifices there
    • The Senate would meet there to decide if they would award a triumph
    • The generals celebrating triumphs would dedicate their wreaths and scepters to Mars
    • The statue of the generals awarded triumphs would be placed outside
    • A governor about to set out for his province would go there
    • Any Legionary standards which were lost and then recaptured from the enemy would be stored there (and so the standards recovered from the Parthians were placed there)
    • The festival of the Equestrian order was celebrated annually on its steps.
Buildings Honored Augustus' Family
  • Public buildings and monuments honored Augustus' family, reinforcing his dynastic wishes.
  • The Maison Carrée in Nîmes dedicated to his adopted sons.
  • The Pantheon in Rome built by his son-in-law Marcus Agrippa.
  • The theater of Marcellus honoring Julia's first husband.
  • The Ara Pacis Augustae on which Augustus portrayed many members of his own family.

Augustus' Building and Religious Programs

  • Augustus details his extensive building and religious programs, including construction of temples (Apollo, Deified Julius, Quirinus, Minerva, Juno, Jupiter Libertas, Lares, Great Mother, Mars the Avenger), the Senate House, porticoes, and the Augustan Forum.
  • He rebuilt 82 temples in the city following the Senate's instructions.
  • He built the theatre near the temple of Apollo.
  • He conducted the Secular Games in 17 BC with Marcus Agrippa.
  • He gave the games of Mars in 2 BC.
  • After victory, he replaced ornaments in temples of Asian cities that his antagonist had taken.

Purposes of the Temple of Mars the Avenger - 2 BC

  • The Temple of Mars was built by Augustus in his forum, serving multiple purposes beyond religious worship:
    • A place for youths transitioning to adulthood.
    • A departure point for provincial governors.
    • A venue for Senate decisions on triumphs.
    • A place for triumphant generals to dedicate their symbols.
    • A site for statues of triumphant leaders.
    • A repository for recovered military standards.
    • A location for the annual equestrian order festival.
  • The Temple of Roma and Augustus in Pula was dedicated to both Augustus and Roma, likely built between 2 BC and AD 14, featuring a dedication to "ROMAE .ET AUGUSTO CAESARI DIVI F PATRI PATRIAE".

Augustus the God

Divi Filius
  • Augustus had been adopted by Julius Caesar in 44 BC.
  • Julius Caesar had been made a god in 42 BC.
  • A comet had been seen soon after his death, and it was believed this was Caesar going up to heaven to join the gods.
  • This made Augustus son of a god: divi filius.
  • Augustus made sure to promote this.
Divine Ancestry
  • Julius Caesar himself had already claimed divine ancestry.
  • He claimed to be descended from Iulus the son of Aeneas.
  • Aeneas was in turn the son of Venus.
  • And so ultimately Caesar claimed descent from Jupiter.
  • This divine ancestry was promoted by the poet Virgil in his poem The Aeneid, which told the story of the journey of Aeneas from Troy to Italy, where he would found the city of Lavinium. In Lavinium Aeneas' son, Iulus, would become king and then found Alba Longa. It was in Alba Longa that Romulus and Remus would be born.
Augustus' Dilemma
  • To the common people Augustus was almost like a god on earth.
  • How else had he managed to bring peace and prosperity to Rome amidst the chaos of civil war?
  • But to be worshipped as a god was a dangerous thing.
  • Julius Caesar had been assassinated when he had accepted honors way beyond normal.
  • If Augustus allowed people to worship him as a god he may well have lost the support of the nobility, and this had been carefully developed through his constitutional arrangements.
  • Yet there was a great political benefit in people assuming a divine link.
Beginning of a Ruler Cult in the Eastern Provinces
  • There were precedents for rulers to be seen as divine in the Eastern provinces.
  • The Hellenistic kings had often been granted divine honors.
  • When these regions came under Roman rule it was natural for the inhabitants to transfer these honors to new rulers, sometimes to the goddess Roma, sometimes to the Senate, more often it was simply to the Governor of the province.
  • Flaminius had been so honored in 196 BC, as were Julius Caesar and Mark Antony when they were in the east.
  • When Augustus came to power, they simply transferred these honors to him.
  • This was seen as a good thing by Augustus as the empire was very large and included many different peoples and cultures, and the worship of one divine being would bring unity to the Empire.
  • In Egypt the Pharaoh had always been a god, so when Augustus took over Egypt he became the Pharaoh of Egypt and therefore divine.
  • But he was careful not to have himself worshipped as a god by himself, and insisted that he be worshipped along with Roma, personification of Rome, so he would be seen as protector of Roma.
  • In 29 BC Pergamum built a temple to Roma and Augustus. Augustus was happy to be worshipped as a god in the East but still did not want to upset the Romans in the provinces. The Romans in Bythnia honored Rome and the deified Julius.
Transfer of the Cult to Other Provinces
  • The ruler cult was introduced into some western provinces.
  • Unlike the east there was no precedent for a ruler to be worshipped as a god.
  • However, altars to Roma and Augustus were still set up in some provinces: Gaul and Germania, at Lugdunum by Drusus in 10 BC (Drusus was the son of Livia, and Augustus' step-son).
  • Augustus saw the worship of himself in the provinces as a positive thing to unify the very many cultures within the empire.
  • Altars to Roma and Augustus were not set up where there was a heavy presence of Roman veterans because, once again, Augustus did not want to upset the Romans.

The First Temple to Caesar Augustus - 30-29 BC

  • Caesar permitted temples for the goddess Rome and his father, the Deified Julius, in Ephesus and Nicaea.
  • Romans in those cities were to honor these deities, while natives could consecrate sites to Caesar.
  • This practice extended to other emperors and provinces, but not to Rome or Italy until after their death.
  • Augustus only accepted joint worship with Rome in the provinces.

Worship of Augustus in Rome

Difference in Rome
  • There was no cult to Roma and Augustus set up in Rome because the people of Rome would never have accepted it.
  • However, Augustus was honored in a number of different ways:
    • His father was a god so he was divi filius
    • His statue was set up next to those of other gods throughout Italy
    • Images of his Genius were placed next to those of the Lares at crossroads
    • The Genius would receive honors.
    • A libation was poured to his genius and the Lares of the house at the end of every meal in Roman households
    • He received the name Augustus in 27 BC, and the name had religious overtones.
    • He received the name Pater Patriae, and Pater was a term often used to address gods.
    • There was a general understanding that Augustus would be made a god on his death, and this was emphasized by poets such as Horace and Virgil, so it was not so difficult to call him a god while he was still alive.
    • His name was added to those of the gods in public hymns
    • Prayers were offered to his health every five years by the consuls
    • His statue was set alongside those of the gods at the lectisternia (banquet of the gods)
    • The Temple of Apollo in Rome was linked to his home on the Palatine.

Measures to Revive and Maintain Roman Traditions

  • Augustus revived several ancient rituals and ceremonies, such as the Augury of Safety, the official priesthood of Jupiter, the rites of the Lupercals, the Secular Games, and the Compitalia festival.
  • He imposed restrictions at the Secular Games, prohibiting adolescents from nocturnal spectacles without adult relatives.
  • He honored past leaders by restoring their buildings and dedicating statues in his Forum.
  • Augustus aimed to maintain the populace's purity by limiting citizenship and enforcing dress codes, such as requiring togas at public meetings.

Measures on Morality

Marriage Laws
  • Such as the Lex Julia de maritandis, which prohibited the marriage between Senators and ex-slaves.
Encouraged Large Families
  • Augustus aimed for families to be larger, particularly the families of the ruling class, as it would mean there were more men available to serve the needs of the Empire.
  • As Rome expanded, so did its need for an educated ruling class to run the Empire.
  • There were penalties for those who were unmarried or childless.
Other Measures
  • Restrictions on manumission (the freeing of slaves) and granting citizenship.
  • Enforcement of dress code requiring the toga at public meetings.
Why Did Augustus Bring In These Measures?
  • It revived the appearance of the old Republic.
  • As the man in charge, Augustus would be seen as the one who had made the changes and would be seen as a traditionalist with an aura of holiness.
  • It would end the wrath of the gods because Rome was no longer straying from her divine path.
  • Rome would seem eternal because the traditions of the past were still being carried out in the present.
  • It would gain Augustus popularity with the Senatorial order, as they were the more conservative of the Romans.
How Successful Was It?
  • It was not really very popular, but the reforms remained anyway.
  • Augustus himself suffered a blow when his own daughter, Julia, was found to be adulterous, going against all he had been attempting to do.

Horace and Augustus

  • Horace wishes for Augustus to return to heaven late and to be among Quirinus' people in gladness, preferring his triumphs and titles of Father and Head.
  • Horace sees Augustus as bringing rich crops back to the fields, restoring standards stripped from temples, closing Janus' arch, and expelling crime.
  • Horace suggests expiating fathers' crimes by repairing gods' temples and being subject to the gods.