4/23/12 Golden Age (connued) Public fes1vals and Poetry • Revive tradi1on of ludi saeculares (Secular • How did Augustus control the image of his Games) celebrang passing of new saeculum 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 Mar1us in honor 2) Poetry: Vergil, Horace, & patron, Maecenas of Dis and Proserpine (Pluto and Persephone) 3) Monumental building program & inscrip1ons – Last held in 146 BC (dropped during civil wars) -including Res Gestae • Augustus reinvents fes1val to inaugurate his 4) Coinage & official portraits distributed new Golden Age throughout empire “This is the man, this is he, whom you have oYen 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 Saturn of old, and who will carry as usual, but Augustus changes fes1val forward the empire over the Garamantes & completely! Indians….” – No longer for gods of Underworld - Vergil, Aeneid 6 – for goddess of childbirth, Mother Earth, and Queen of the gods, Juno (Father Anchises to son Aeneas in Underworld) – New prayer asks for blessings on “me, my family and household ” – Augustus and his household = ROME now 1 4/23/12 Horace: Carmen Saeculare 2) Rebuilding the City (Secular Hymn = Song of a New Age) • “Aware that the city was architecturally unworthy of her posi1on as capital of the Roman Empire, “Goddess, nurture our offspring, bring to frui1on besides being vulnerable to fire and river floods, the Senate’s decrees concerning the wedlock Augustus so improved her appearance that he could jus1fiably boast: ‘I found Rome built of of women who’ll bear us more of our children, bricks; I leave her clothed in marble.’” -Suetonius and the laws of marriage…” - Center of Republican Rome = display of aristocrac compe11on - 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 Janus • Rostra with Ac1um prows (see Vergil Aeneid • Basilicas renamed for passage A) Gaius & Lucius (grandkids) • Next to forum = • Castor and Pollux = Palane Hill: home to Augustus & Tiberius & Drusus (step-sons) new temple of Apollo 2 4/23/12 Curia Julia: Victoria and Golden Shield of Temple of Concordia now for Livia valor, clemency, justice, & devotion • Augustus = Rome • Harmony at home for Aug. = harmony in Rome Arch of Aug. Castor and Pollux Temple of Mars Ultor (Mars the Avenger) Divus Iulus Basilica Julia Dedicated 2 BC Basilica Aemilia 1) Caesar’s Assassins 2) Parthians 3) Cleopatra Curia Julia Temple of Concord (and Antony) Forum of Julius Caesar Forum of Augustus Living History: Augustus as fulfillment of Roman history - new founder 3 4/23/12 Ara Pacis = altar of peace Mausoleum of Augustus (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 Augus6: sundial (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 Ara Pacis prosperity, fer1lity, rebirth, art, literature, morality, military success, respect for mos maiorum, and religious revival. 4 .