Art and Literature in Augustan Rome - 1252 Words

Art and Literature in Augustan Rome The beginning of this time period comes with the death of Julius Caesar and the rise to power of his nephew, Octavius. He was in the Second Triumvirate that was formed to maintain order in Rome. Octavian, Marcus Lepidus, and Marc Antony ruled formally unlike the informal triumvirate of Julius Caesar. The triumvirate set out to execute members of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar. In 42 BC, Brutus and Cassius were finally defeated. In the following years the triumvirate diminished. In 36 BC, Lepidus retired. Marc Antony began to have affairs with Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. These affairs briefly came to a pause when Antony married Octavian’s sister Octavia. Marc Antony later returns to Egypt and†¦show more content†¦Another example is that the poem also served in Augustus’s attempts to re-introduce Roman values into Roman society, including reverence for the gods. Aeneas continually showed reverence to the gods, just as he did when he left Dido because it was the god’s will. The poem continues to reflect these ideals by portraying Aeneas not as a man motivated by personal gain, but a man motivated by his love and loyalty to his country, people and gods. For Romans the Aeneid is seen as something mystical, which it may be, but for Augustus it is just another example of his use of literature and art as propaganda. Augustus also united the Empire through his use of the arts as a form of self-promotion and to promote the themes of his administration, such as peace, allegiance to Rome, and respect for tradition. He visually improved the city by constructing new buildings that were worthy of the powerful Empire. He made art into the materialization of Roman government which was an idea continued by his descendants and was declared a god. He knew that he had to portray his greatness in all the aspects of his subjects’ lives, including the arts. Three examples of such art are the Ara Pacis, the Temple of Mars, and the Res Ges tae Divi Augustus. The Ara Pacis was made to honor the triumphal return from Spain and Gaul of Augustus and to celebrate the peace established by his victories. The Temple of Mars was constructed in Rome, to giveShow MoreRelated Augustan Poetry Essay830 Words   |  4 PagesAugustan Poetry Often through hardship and nearly insurmountable difficulty great works of art are born. Although years of bloodshed and civil war had plagued Rome since the death of Julius Caesar, some of the most powerful and influential literature in the western world was developed in that timeframe. During the Age of Augustus (approximately 43 BC – 17 AD) such great writers as Virgil, Horace, Livy, Propertius, and Ovid created epic masterpieces of literature and philosophy. It was throughRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Two Of The Aeneid 876 Words   |  4 Pageswas spattered throughout the pages of historical literature and art. Unlike our contemporary â€Å"piety†, however, Pietas refers to a much more broad and abstract devotion. Roughly translated, it means a loyalty to family and country. Or, in more direct terms, it is a sense of duty and responsibility specifically to one’s father, Roman values and customs, the Gods, and country. Pietas was commonly displayed through a rt, sculpture, and even literature throughout the entire length of the Roman empire,Read MoreReflection Of Ovids Metamorphoss1330 Words   |  6 PagesLatin poems. Unlike Virgils Aeneid, which preceded it by twenty-one years, it is elusive and ironic, mythic rather than historical, and, as its name suggests, continually shifting its shape. Rather than chronicling and celebrating the monumentality of Rome and the grandeur of its emperor, Ovid here examines and reflects upon the passions and inner strengths and weaknesses of individuals. The Metamorphoses is a collection of tales rather than one complex story or set of adventures. Many scholars argueRead MoreAugustan Art and Propaganda Essay1964 Words   |  8 PagesAugustan Art and Propaganda Julius Caesars reign was an unfavorable and chaotic period for Rome, and after his death, a large portion of the empire was handed down to his adopted son, Gaius Octavian. From the ashes of his father, Octavian was able to build an Empire unparalleled. Later, the name Augustus was given to him by Senate. Augustus ostensibly maintained the form of the Roman Republic while in actuality creating the Roman Empire. He introduced the administrative reforms that led to theRead MoreWhy The Greeks Influenced Roman Culture1015 Words   |  5 Pagesthis, I will support my discussion with a set of specific examples. Lastly, as I have a personal interest in museum studies, I will briefly answer the question: Was it theft? Did the Romans really loot Greek art, and what for? . Discussion The Roman adoption of Greek culture and arts started via the Greek colonies sometime c 700 BC; yet it was intensified in the late Third and Second Millennium BC, when expansion into the Hellenistic world opened Roman eyes to the hitherto unregardedRead MoreThe Romans Of The Augustan Age1761 Words   |  8 Pages1. What does it mean to be a Roman? How did the Romans of the Augustan age think about themselves? What are some of the important ideas that they used to form their identity? How did they see themselves in relationship to others? How did other peoples contribute to their identity? To be a Roman is a very honorable trait, because at the time Rome had taken over most of the modern world. For one to be a Roman they must have honor and respect and if they lost those two traits they would be ashamedRead MoreTheme in Virgil’s Aeneid625 Words   |  3 PagesVirgil, the most distinguished poet of the Roman Empire lived during the rulings of emperor Octavian, better known as Augustus. His father a farmer, he found no time for the daily grind, instead Virgil sought writing. His primary works of art centered on turmoil brought on by evil power and pointless wars. The history of this time is fascinating because it is the beginning of what we know today as the Roman Empire. It is easy to poke fun at Virgil as a spawn of Homer as his writing is similar inRead MoreThe English Renaissance : The Golden Age1861 Words   |  8 PagesSpain. During Queen Elizabeth’s reign, London became a place where learning and literature disproved. She also recognized the import ance of art and theater, which is the reason they prospered under her. Her personal esteem of music, drama and poetry made it possible for members of the court to support the arts. Moreover, This Golden Age represented the flowering of literature, poetry and music. Literature, visual arts, music and architecture were some of the main factors of the English RenaissanceRead MoreComparison Between Roman And Roman Civilization1565 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction- Since Roman Civilization Rome itself is highly recognized for its most notorious dynasties of all the city gained its own image in exposing harsh cruelty. During the years in BC Imperial and administration earned Hellenistic Empires from republic, after being discovered in Sicily, Macedonia, between The Seleucid and Egypt itself was barely modify to a lending degree to prevail percentages from the Domain, Ever since then Rome has always been widely known for its brutal behavior andRead MoreEssay on Augustus Caesar859 Words   |  4 PagesEmpire. He made Rome what think of it as and what we study today. Octavian’s first public appearance was in 51 BC when he delivered his grandmother’s eulogy. In 48 BC he started his political career when he was elected to pontifical college. In 45 BC he went with Caesar to Spain and in 44 BC when Caesar was killed he discovered he had been adopted by him. Upon this happening Octavian gathered support and troops and went to Rome to make his adoption official. When he got to Rome, Marc Antony,