Roman History and Literature Course: Key Concepts, Figures, and Themes

Course Overview

• Julio-Claudian Dynasty:
  • Focus on emperors from this dynasty, starting with Augustus.
  • All emperors in this dynasty belonged to the same family.
• Roman Philosophy:
  • Mid-week, a shift to philosophy focusing on Seneca.
  • Requires revisiting ancient Greek thought.
• Later Emperors and Roman Provinces:
  • Concludes with an overview of Roman provincial governance and life.

Ovid's Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love)

Context and Significance

• Publication Date: 2 CE, during Augustus's reign.
• Historical Source: Provides insights into elite male life in Augustan Rome.
• Speaker's Persona: Viewed as horrifying by modern standards, reflects the ethics of Roman elite men.

Themes and Interpretations

• Sexual Ethics:
  • Reveals fantasies of violence and consent issues, indicative of misogyny.
• Modern Scholarship:
  • Recent works address the sexual violence in Ovid’s poetry more directly than previous translations.

Allusions and Tone

• Mythological References:
  • Utilizes myths like the rape of the Sabine women in legitimizing speaker's behavior.
• Ironic Tone:
  • The speaker acknowledges absurdity, presenting a sardonic perspective.

Poetic Intentions

• Rejection of Epic Tradition:
  • Distances from models of epic poetry; focuses on personal experience instead.
• Alexandrian Influence:
  • Aligns with shorter poetic forms and emotional poetry of earlier Alexandrian poets.

Roman Identity

• Venus as Guide:
  • Venus symbolizes Rome's historical roots as its child.
• Historical Context:
  • Contrasts early rustic experiences with grand contemporary Rome.

Augustus and Augustan Rome

• Ambiguous Attitude:
  • Ovid's view of Augustus includes both admiration and irony regarding moral reforms.
• Limited Critique:
  • Avoids direct criticism of Augustus to maintain popularity.

Urban Landscape of Rome

• Architectural Improvements:
  • Highlights buildings and infrastructure from Augustus's era, marking advancements in architecture.
• Key Locations:
  • Pompey's Portico (55 BCE), Portico of Livia (art gallery), Temple of Apollo (28 BCE) and others.
• Elite Life:
  • References opulence and banquets reflective of elite lifestyles.

Elite Male Experiences and Roman Luxury

• Dining and Entertainment:
  • Lavish dinners as social opportunities and enjoyment.
• Resorts:
  • Popular destinations like Baia exemplified elite leisure activities.
• Mime Shows:
  • Mime performances adopted from Alexandrians as entertainment.

Augustus's New Political Order

• New Definition of Princeps:
  • Establishment of "princeps" or "first citizen" as a change from previous offices.
• Limited Resistance:
  • Augustus faced little resistance; individuals sought to align themselves with him.

Succession Challenges and Political Intrigue

Exile and Inheritance Issues

• Speculation on Ovid's Exile:
  • Suggested involvement in political intrigue, linked to Augustus's family's choices.
• Importance of Lineage:
  • Significance of family lineage in Roman political culture.

Agrippa and the Succession Plan

• Agrippa's Influence:
  • Key figure in Augustus's succession plans, married to Julia.
• Gaius and Lucius:
  • Augustus adopts Agrippa's sons, indicating familial prioritization in succession.

The Julio-Claudian Dynasty

• Start:
  • Began with Augustus in 27 BCE and marked by connected bloodlines.
• Historiographical Approach:
  • Emphasizes importance of historians like Tacitus and Suetonius who documented this era.

Contributions of Tacitus and Suetonius

Tacitus's Importance

• Researched Accounts:
  • Worked documented the complex, often negative portrayals of Julio-Claudian emperors.
• Surviving Works:
  • "Annales" covering the years from Tiberius to Nero, offering critical insights into their rule.

Suetonius's Contribution

• Biographical Focus:
  • Offers personal character assessments of emperors rather than structured historical analysis.
• Anecdotal Accounts:
  • Includes psychological insights and emphasizes anecdotes in characterizing emperors.

The End of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty

• Nero's Suicide:
  • Marks the end of the dynasty, leading into the year of four emperors and subsequent political chaos.
• Senate's Role:
  • Intervened post-Nero, leading to the appointment of Nerva and later emperors through political maneuvering instead of lineage.

Conclusion

• Legacy:
  • The Julio-Claudian dynasty presents a complex picture of imperial Rome, marked by both grand achievements and significant flaws, leading to evolving governance approaches in subsequent dynasties, notably the diffusion of authority into merit-based successions in later emperors.