ROME’S ROLE IN IMPERIAL PROPAGANDA AND POLICY, 293-324 CE ROMA, AUCTRIX IMPERII? ROME’S ROLE IN IMPERIAL PROPAGANDA AND POLICY FROM 293 CE UNTIL 324 CE By JOHN M. FABIANO, B.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts McMaster University © Copyright by John Fabiano, September 2013 McMaster University MASTER OF ARTS (2013) Hamilton, Ontario (Classics) TITLE: Roma, Auctrix Imperii? Rome’s Role in Imperial Propaganda and Policy from 293 CE until 324 CE AUTHOR: John Fabiano, B.A. (University of Toronto) SUPERVISOR: Professor M. Beckmann NUMBER OF PAGES: xiii, 198 i Abstract By the early fourth century Rome was more than a thousand years old and the historical caput mundi was, accordingly, steeped in long established traditions. It was these historical traditions and memories that served as paradigms for understanding present circumstances. One such paradigm was the relationship between Rome and her emperors. Traditionally, monarchical power was the antithesis of the Roman Republican model, yet Augustus uniquely altered this model and established a new acceptable paradigm wherein the emperor was the princeps civitatis and the patron to all Romans. This imperial patronage was characterized primarily by the commissioning of public buildings in the Urbs and the maintenance of Rome’s cults and traditions. Therefore, Rome was inextricably intertwined with the legitimacy, success (or failure), and longevity of an emperor’s reign. Throughout the third century, however, Rome was plagued by manifold crises and the paradigmatic relationship between Rome and her rulers began to break down, such that some scholars have suggested that from 293 CE and the establishment of the tetrarchy Rome became increasingly manifest wherever the emperors were, with the city itself becoming nothing more than a peripheral concern. The former line of argumentation, however, is often advanced with the belief that Rome’s diminishing importance was uninterrupted and invariable, often disregarding the evidence within the city itself and focusing on monumental evidence outside of Rome and across the empire. This thesis, then, by examining the evidence within the city of Rome and that pertaining to it, demonstrates that between 293 and 324 CE Rome’s marginalization was anything but consistent and that the city, with all its symbolic and actual power, was integral to Maxentius’ and Constantine’s legitimation policies. Moreover, this thesis also elucidates how Rome functioned in imperial thought for each regime, with old paradigms becoming malleable to accommodate new imperial policy. ii Acknowledgements I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to all who supported me along the way and, in particular, make mention of a few. First of all, I owe a great debt to my supervisor, Dr. M. Beckmann, for his guidance, encourangment, and tireless effort to make my work better even though he was stationed across the Atlantic. Also, to the members of my committee, Drs. George and Haley, for their thought provoking questions, constructive input, and supervision. But above all else, I must thank my family and wife, Caralia, without their support I would never have been able to complete this journey. iii Table of Contents List of Illustrations ....................................................................................................................... vi Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1 Chapter 1: Rome of the Periphery: Tetrarchic Representation and Ideology Introduction ....................................................................................................................................8 Unity of the Tetrarchy and of the Empire: Artistic Representations of Rome and the Imperial College 293-305 C.E. The Imperial College 293-305 CE ................................................................................................12 Artistic Representations of Rome 293-305 CE .............................................................................20 Tetrarchic Building in Rome’s Center ......................................................................................25 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................28 Chapter 2: From the Rule of Four to Maxentius, Conservator Urbis Suae Introduction ....................................................................................................................................30 Conservator Urbis Suae: Propaganda and Politics ........................................................................36 Coinage at Rome 306-308 CE ......................................................................................................37 Maxentian Aes Coinage at Rome 306-308 CE .............................................................................46 Coinage from 308- 312 CE ...........................................................................................................48 “Marti Invicto Patri:” Maxentius in the Epigraphic Record at Rome ........................................54 The Maxentian Building Program .................................................................................................65 The “Sacra Via Trio” ...................................................................................................................66 The Sacra Via Rotunda .................................................................................................................67 The Basilica Nova .........................................................................................................................77 The Templum Romae .....................................................................................................................88 The Arch of Maxentius? ................................................................................................................97 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................105 Chapter 3: Liberator, Innovator, or Imitator? Constantine and Rome Introduction ..................................................................................................................................111 Liberator Urbis Suae: Panegyrics and Propaganda Maxentius, a Tyrannus? ...............................................................................................................113 iv Erasing Maxentius: Constantine’s Secular Building in Rome Appropriation and Continuity of Power, Part I ...........................................................................117 Appropriation and Continuity of Power, Part II: “The Arch of Constantine” ...........................132 Constantine’s Christian Building in Rome: “Novatoris Turbatorisque” or Novatoris Conservatorisque .........................................................................................................................138 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................151 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................155 Image Appendix .........................................................................................................................159 Bibliography ...............................................................................................................................190 v List of Illustrations Maps 1. Map of Rome, 330 C.E., with extramural and intramural buildings of Maxentius and Constantine (adapted from Lenski 2006, Map 3.1 & 3.2). Figures 1. A. Porphyry Group, Venice (Rees 1993, Pl. 2). B. Porphyry Groups, Vatican (Rees 1993, Pls. 9 & 10). 2. Sketch of Cult Room at Luxor (Rees 1993, Pl. 3). 3. Luxor, Temple of Ammon in the late third century (Kalavrezou-Maxeiner 1975, Fig. A). 4. Tetrarchic Five-Column Monument depicted on the Arch of Constantine (Kalavrezou- Maxeiner 1975, Fig. 27). 5. Decennalia base from Five-Column Monument in Forum Romanum (L’Orange 1973, Abb.6). 6. Gold Medallion of Tetrarchy from Trier (American Numismatic Society 1967.153.38). 7. Silver Coin of Constantius I from Trier (American Numismatic Society 1944.100.5869). 8. Aes Coin of Diocletian, Unmarked (American Numismatic Society 1984.136.358). 9. A. Reception of Persian Delegation (Pond Rothman 1977, Fig. 19). B. Roma flanked by the Personifications of other Imperial Cities (Pond Rothman 1977, Fig. 28). 10. Bronze Relief with Roma Flanked by Personifications of Imperial Cities (Toynbee 1947, Pl. VII). 11. A. Aureus multiple from Rome, Obverse Legend: IMP C M VAL MAXENTIVS P F AVG, Reverse Legend: ROMAE AETERNAE AVCTRICI AVG N (Cullhed, 1994, Fig. 4). B. Aureus from Rome, Obverse Legend: MAXENTIVS P F INVIC AVG (British Museum R. 137). C. Aes coin minted in Ostia for Maxentius with dioscuri on reverse (American Numismatic Society 1974.95.17). D. Aes coin from Rome, Reverse Legend: CONSERV VRB SVAE ( American Numismatic Society 1944.100.3030). 12. A. Statue Base in the Forum Romanum dedicated to Mars and the Founders of Rome by Maxentius (Last Statues of Antiquity Database, LSA-1388). vi B. Right side of statue base set up by Maxentius (Last Statues of Antiquity Database, LSA-1388). 13. Statue base