CHAPTER SIX

RES PUBLICA CONSTITUTA

Octavian returned to Rome in 29 BC and entered the city in a triple triumph 13–15th August. He remained in Rome until the summer of 27 BC. In the city Octavian tried to boost euphoria: the triumphs, dedication of temples and quinquennial games in 28 BC. Th e plebs and the veterans received money distribution from the spoils and Dio even suggests that the boost to the money supply meant that interest rates fell to a third of the previous level (51.21.5).1 In 29–28 BC Octavian carried out a census with Agrippa, which included a revision of the Senate.2 In 28 BC 82 temples were restored as part of refurbishing the city of Rome and pleasing the gods, as civil war had its cause in the neglect of the gods (Livy 3.20.5: neglegentia deum).3 Octavian also made a show of personal modesty by melting down 80 statues of himself and used the proceeds to dedicate tripods in the temple of Apollo Palatinus.4 A Greek literary papyrus, most likely contemporary, mentions a ship with a cargo of Law and Order and prosperity.5 Th is process of returning to normality ended in 27 BC with the return of the triumviral potestas to the Senate and people, as a symbol of the accomplishment of the triumviral assignment; the res publica was fi nally constituted. Th e period from the return of Octavian to Rome in 29 BC to the settlement of 28–27 BC, focusing on the commemorations of the victory of Actium (and Alexandria) at Rome and the settlement of 28–27 BC, will bring

1 Dio 51.21.2; 53.1.3–2.3 on the spectacles, dedications and benefactions. See Rich and Williams 1999, 189. 2 RG 8.2; Suet. Aug. 27.5, 35.1; Dio 51.42.1–4, 53.1.3; EJ 323 (census). RG 8.2 must then be seen in continuation of his policy statement, his manifesto, in RG 8.5 on moral legislation (Brunt and Moore 1967, 52), but also the continued work of Augustus to “set the state to right”. 3 RG 20.4; Livy 4.20.7; Suet. Aug. 30.2; Dio 53.2.4; Hor. Odes 3.6.1–8; Ovid Fasti 2.63. See Rich and Williams 1999, 189–190. Regarding the neglect of the gods, see Ogilvie 1965, 431–432. 4 Zanker 1990, 90–96 for the context of the tripods. Regarding the temple of Apollo on the Palatine, Lambrechts 1953 suggests that we talk of an Apollonic character of Augustan religion. 5 Page 1942, no. 113. See also Bowersock 1965, 139. 160 chapter six together all the themes of this analysis, i.e. pax, civil war, Apollo and Actium. Instead of the traditional view that Octavian claimed to have restored the res publica, it will be suggested that the settlement equals the accomplishment of the triumviral assignment, a major diff erence being that it was thus much more unproblematic that the Senate gave new powers to Augustus in 27 BC; it was all a question of fi xed-term assignments.

6.1. Th e reshaping of the Forum Romanum

Th is section will look at monuments built in the Forum Romanum in connection with the victories over Antonius and Cleopatra. Th is was a virtual rebuilding of the Forum Romanum; it changed signifi cantly with the victories of Octavian.6

Th e Temple of Divus Julius Th e temple was authorised in 42 BC by the triumvirs and dedicated on 18th August 29 BC.7 In front of it was the rostra aedis divi Iuli, with rams from the battle of Actium (Dio 51.19.2; 56.34.4; Frontin. Aq. 129.1). On one of the reliefs of the Plutei Traiani the emperor stands in front of the temple, with rams clearly visible.8 In RG 21.2 Augustus stresses that he used the proceeds of booty to dedicate gift s in the temple to Divus Julius, Jupiter, Mars Ultor, Vesta and Apollo. According to Dio 51.22.2–3 these spoils were from Egypt. Th e temple should be seen in connection with the accomplishment of the triumviral assignment; Caesar was avenged and the temple with

6 Zanker 1990, 85–90, esp. 85. For overviews, see Zanker 1990; Favro 1996. 7 Dio 47.18 on the triumvirs and Dio 51.22.2–3 on the date of dedication. See also RG 19.1. On the temple, see Platner and Ashby 1926, 286–288; Gros 1996, 116–119; Claridge 1998, 97–99, Coarelli 2008, 90–92. According to Roller 2007 it is signifi cant that the temple was begun by the triumvirs, but in the end Octavian took sole credit for it (90). But in reality what else could he have done? Similar he suggests that the temple of Mars Ultor is the forgotten temple of Antonius, as he, the victor of Philippi, would have vowed it (94–95). But this is surely a misunderstanding; the triumvirs were behind the victory, as this was part of their assignment, but at the same time Octavian had his fi lial duty. 8 See Zanker 1972, 13; Hannestad 1988, 192–194. Th e rams are also visible on a coin of Hadrian. On the coin, as on the Plutai Traiani, the emperor is shown addressing the people from the rostra aedis divi Iuli. See BMC vol. 3 1936, 433, nr. 1309ff .