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4/23/12

Golden Age (connued) Public fesvals and Poetry

• Revive tradion of saeculares (Secular • How did control the image of his Games) celebrang passing of new new Golden Age and share his message? – “saeculum” = period of 100 or 110 years: New Age 1) Public celebraons: Secular games – Games and sacrifices in Campus Marus in honor 2) Poetry: Vergil, , & patron, Maecenas of Dis and Proserpine ( and Persephone) 3) Monumental building program & inscripons – Last held in 146 BC (dropped during civil wars) -including Res Gestae • Augustus reinvents fesval to inaugurate his 4) Coinage & official portraits distributed new Golden Age throughout empire

“This is the man, this is he, whom you have oen 17 BC: Secular Games heard promised: Augustus Caesar, descendant of a god, who will again establish the Golden Ages • Marks official arrival of New Age (aurea saecula) which once reigned in the fields • Three days and nights of ceremony & sacrifice of Laum under of old, and who will carry as usual, but Augustus changes fesval forward the empire over the Garamantes & completely! Indians….” – No longer for gods of Underworld - Vergil, 6 – for goddess of childbirth, Mother Earth, and Queen of the gods, (Father Anchises to son in Underworld) – New prayer asks for blessings on “me, my family and household ” – Augustus and his household = now

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Horace: Carmen Saeculare 2) Rebuilding the City (Secular Hymn = Song of a New Age) • “Aware that the city was architecturally unworthy of her posion as capital of the , “Goddess, nurture our offspring, bring to fruion besides being vulnerable to fire and river floods, the Senate’s decrees concerning the wedlock Augustus so improved her appearance that he could jusfiably boast: ‘I found Rome built of of women who’ll bear us more of our children, bricks; I leave her clothed in marble.’” - and the laws of marriage…” - Center of Republican Rome = display of aristocrac compeon - Now, Imperial Rome = monument to Augustus MESSAGE: Augustus IS Rome & preserves best of good old Republic.

Augustus’ restoraon of downtown Rome: Restoraon and Re-dedicaon in forum

• Reinvents Roman history and inserts himself as • Temple of Divine Julius culminaon Eg. Temple of with Acum prows (see Vergil Aeneid • renamed for passage A) Gaius & Lucius (grandkids) • Next to forum = • = Palane Hill: home to Augustus & & Drusus (step-sons) new temple of

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Curia Julia: and Golden Shield of Temple of Concordia now for valor, clemency, justice, & devotion

• Augustus = Rome • Harmony at home for Aug. = harmony in Rome

Arch of Aug. Castor and Pollux Temple of Ultor (Mars the Avenger) Divus Iulus Julia Dedicated 2 BC

Basilica Aemilia 1) Caesar’s Assassins 2) Parthians 3) Julia (and Antony)

Forum of Living History: Augustus as fulfillment of Roman history - new founder

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Ara Pacis = altar of peace (vowed in 13 BC)

- massive tomb, 50 meters high - 2 drums, planted with trees, capped by massive statue of Augustus (like Alex. the Great) - Res Gestae inscribed on pillars in front

Solarium Augus: (10 BC) The Result: • largest sundial ever built, c. 160 m. by 75 m. • indicated both hour of day and day of year • Augustus made Rome into truly imperial city: a • gnomon of sundial, pointer that casts shadow, showplace for both Rome’s power in the world actually huge obelisk from Egypt and his own power in Rome • • markings for hours of day and signs of zodiac Starts with restoraon of individual temples and ends with monumental celebraon of dynasty • On Aug’s birthday, Sept 23rd, shadow from • old Rome = foundaon for new era of peace, gnomon pointed directly to prosperity, ferlity, rebirth, art, literature, morality, military success, respect for mos maiorum, and religious revival.

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