Seminar Ii The saecular games

In 17 BC, a series of major events were held in Rome: the Ludi Saeculares. This seminar will focus on understanding these ceremonies and their significance in Augustan Rome.

Reading list: LACTOR L20-28 K. Galinsky, Augustan Culture (1996) 100ff. P. Zanker, The power of images in the age of Augustus (1988) 167-183. A. Barchiesi, “The uniqueness of the Carmen Saeculare and its tradition,” in Traditions and Contexts in the Poetry of Horace, eds T. Woodman and D. Feeney (Cambridge 2002) 107-23. D. Barker, “The Golden Age Is Proclaimed'? The Carmen Saeculare and the Renascence of the Golden Race,” Classical Quarterly 46.2 (1996) 434-446. L.R. Taylor, “New light on the history of the Secular Games,” AJP 55 (1934) 101-20. D. Feeney, Literature and Religion at Rome (1998)—esp. pp. 28-38.

The main question that we all want to consider is: to what extent do the Saecular Games of 17 BC represent the construction of a tradition under Augustus?

To do so, we will look at the evidence available from three different angles: the oracle, as preserved in much later literature, Horace’s Carmen Saeculare, and the inscribed account.

First, make sure you have the basics of the Secular Games down. What were they? Why were they celebrated? What was involved in the celebration? Who was involved?

While you are reading the ancient sources, keep in mind the set of questions we should always ask when interrogating an ancient source: -Who wrote this? (E.g., who was Horace? Who set up the inscription?) -Why? -With what aims?

More specific to this material, some other questions to try to answer for yourselves: -What is our evidence for the Secular Games prior to Augustus? -What is the style/tone of the inscription and of Horace’s work?

Also, consider how this fits in with the larger picture of changes in Augustan Rome that we have seen elsewhere and discussed in lecture.

In seminar, each group will give a short 10-12 minute presentation on the questions below; we’ll all have copies of the relevant texts in LACTOR, but handouts isolating specific passages to discuss would be welcome.

GROUP 1 Does Horace’s work place a different emphasis on the rites than the inscribed account? How can you explain this?

GROUP 2 What can the Secular Games tell us about Augustan society?

GROUP 3 What gods are honoured, and what does this reflect about transformations in Augustan religion?

After the presentations, we will discuss how all of this fits together, and consider the main question outlined above.