Student 1: Low Excellence
Latin AS 3.4B
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“I found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble.i” Augustus Caesar (63BC – 14AD) became
the undisputed ruler of Rome when he defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium.
During his long reign he brought about peace and stability in an era known as the Pax Romana (The
Roman Peace) and made a concerted effort to redefine the Roman identity. Augustus found his way
into the heart of the traditional Roman man through his commitment to restoring Rome to the way
in which it had been founded by Romulus and Remus and bringing the Roman government to its
rightful power, ruling everything. The Emperor Augustus promoted patriotism during ‘The Golden
Age,’ through his encouragement of influential historians and poets to create works in support of his
aims and Roman pride. Reflection of such aims is very evident through the analysis of poems such as
those of Virgil and Horace and intended effect of what is essentially propaganda is undeniable.
(1)An exemplary passage of Virgil’s Aeneid of the ideas of Augustus and how they show national
identity and patriotism lie in the passage in which Anchises predicts that Augustus Caesar will go on
to make a ‘Golden Age’ once again. ‘hic uir, hic est, tibi quem promitti saepius audis, Augustus
Caesar, diui genus, aurea condet saecula qui rursus Latio regnata per arua Saturno quondam.ii’
Augustus in his lifetime went on to exploit his very distant familial connection to Aeneas and the fact
that Virgil calls upon Augustus in a prophecy cements his status among the citizens of Rome. Virgil is
marking him out for divinity, and the Romans being infatuated with prophecies and gods have no
choice but to support this man who was always destined to be their ruler and the purveyor of peace
and restoration of ancient culture. The fact that he belongs to the same line of genealogy as Aeneas
makes his position as a human of god-like status all the more valid. There is no doubt about the
purpose of Augustus in the Roman Empire and Virgil is sharing his view with the Roman population
and uniting the people with this sense of national identity as they are all privy to the beliefs under
the same ruler. The super natural element of the character of Augustus is only furthered in a
following passage where ‘hinc Augustus agens Italos in proelia Caesar cum patribus populoque,
penatibus et magnis dis, stans celsa in puppi, geminas cui tempora flammas laeta uomunt
patriumque aperitur uertice sidus.iii’ The twin flames are partly associated with his helmet and the
twin crests of Romulus, but also give an element of super natural to Augustus himself .There is also
an emphasis on the Italians who are now enemies who contributed a great amount to the destiny of
Rome. (4)This passage is very interesting in the sense that it makes a lot of historical allusions not
only to Romulus but also to Julius Caesar as well. Virgil has succeeding in lifting Augustus’s status
only further up the chain of power in awarding him with what is essentially super-human qualities
which will go on to bring about the longest periods of peace, stability and prosperity in the history
of Rome. The views of the poet unite the views of the people especially as Augustus ‘leads the
Italians to conflict, with him the Senate, the people.’ Augustus appears to be fighting for the people
with the people and the population of Rome unite under his rule in a single national identity
physically expressing their commitment to their nation and its leader in the ultimate act of
patriotism just as Augustus has made it so through his careful command over literate
promotion.Through his literature Horace supports Augustus. Horace was a contemporary of Julius
Caesar and in capturing the very essence of the civil wars: (3)‘sic est: acerba fata Romanos agunt
scelusque fraternae necis, ut imerentis fluxit in terram Remi sacer nepotibus cruoriv,’ it becomes very
clear that the civil wars are exceptionally dark times in the history of the Roman republic. This is of
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course before the time of Augustus which ultimately leaves him in a powerful position as these
murky times in Roman history are accounted. It makes the case for the Pax Romana that Augustus
can offer that much stronger. Horace goes on to document the Augustan triumphs at the Battle of
Actium: ‘io Triumphe, tu moraris aureos currus et intactas boves?v This passage is monumental as
after leaving the Battle of Actium a victor, Augustus essentially became the ruler of what would
become the Roman Empire.(1) In this battle Augustus portrays the quintessential traditional Roman
man sticking up for traditional Roman beliefs defending the Roman way of life from the inevitable
foreign reform of Marc Antony, softened by his partner Cleopatra and how she would have him rule.
In fact it seems Marc Antony’s soldiers agree as ‘hostiliumque navium portu latent puppes
sinistrorsum citae.vi’ They will not fight for Eastern rule, it seems as if they would have Augustus rule
also. This is important for the analysis of the acceptance of the ideals of Augustus by the Romans.
How could they not accept somebody who seems to be the embodiment of the traditional Roman
man, who is able to have his enemies fleets surrender to him and leave him to be the victor as if it is
fated so? Moving to Augustus’s reign (13BC), Horace writes (3)‘dius orte bonis, potume Romulae
custos gentis, abes iam nimium Diu; maturum reditum pollicitus partrum sancto consilio redi.vii’ This
convincing piece of propaganda subtly promotes Augustus in the eyes of the reader. Horace
becomes a voice of the people, the everyday traditional Roman who is concerned for the possibility
of another civil war.(1) Horace promotes Augustus to the individual who has taken on the
responsibility of maintaining the order and peace of the Roman rule and he reflects his belief in this
man urging the everyday Roman man to feel the same way. This shows the national identity of
Rome, in the sense that they each belong under the reign of Augustus whether they be a poet like
Horace or simply an ordinary man, they all share this feelings and patriotism as they devote
themselves completely to their country. A particularly emblematic example of just how highly
esteemed Augustus is in the eyes of Horace is evident in an earlier passage of Horace ‘Gentis
humanae pater atque custos, orte Saturno, tibi cura magni Caesaris fatis adta: tu secundo Caesare
regnesviii.’ It is as if Augustus never existed before he became emperor, this is very indicative of the
nature of Augustus and how he has left Octavius behind as if his life before power is irrelevant. Ever
the subtle manipulator, it seems as if all of the bad things he has done previously no longer matter
as he is now this super-human traditional man. It shows just how clever Augustus was that his rule is
being tied with Jupiter’s own rule. Horace is saying that Augustusix is second only to Jupiter and
Augustus is transcending ordinary people to this more than human status, up there with the gods
that he values so much as per his traditional aims for the people. He is a dictator yet he manages to
somehow avoid dictatorship through his restrained promotion with the help of people like Horace.
During his reign, Augustus also commissioned Horace to compose a hymn for the long-abandoned
festival (17BC) the Carmen Saecularex which Augustus revived in accordance with his policy of
recreating ancient customs. ‘Possis nihil urbe Roma visere maius!xi’ This hymn is more than anything
a celebration of Augustan rule noting how nothing can ever threaten Rome under Augustus’s
leadership. It is a compelling passage as it shows all of the wonderful things the reign of Augustus
has bought about. (2) It seems that Horace simply buys into the shameless propaganda because
what Augustus can offer the people is attractive even if he is a dictator behind the guise of a man of
tradition and dedication to the gods and ancient ways of Rome. This really is the epitome of national
identity that something like this would be read at a festival for the crowd to bask in the glory that
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Augustus has bought to the Romans. The patriotism of Horace on behalf of the people makes it clear
why Augustus could so easily take and maintain full power of the citizens of Rome.
Augustus recreates ancient customs in his strategies surrounding the control of power and the
founding of the Roman Empire. With his rise to and constant hold of the power, comes also the
founding of a new national identity. Augustus holds views based on the ‘History of Rome’ by Livy and
thinks the reason for the downfall of the Republic to be the straying from traditional values and
worship of the gods.(5) Augustus aims in his reign to restore such traditions and values and have the
population of Rome united under him with a single new national identity, him being their powerful
leader that would continue to hold that power.
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Suetonius Augustus
ii ‘This is the man; this is him, whom you so often hear promised you Augustus Caesar, son of the Deified, who
will make a Golden Age again in the fields where Saturn once reigned.’ (Virgil: Aeneid VI:791f)
iii‘Augustus Caesar stands on his high stern, leading the Italians to conflict, with him the Senate, the people,
the household gods, the great gods, his happy brow shoots out twin flames and his father’s star is shown on
his head.’ (Virgil: Aeneid VIII. 678f)
iv‘That’s so: a bitter destiny dogs the Romans, the guilt of a brother’s murder, since Remus’ innocent blood
poured on the ground, a curse on Rome’s posterity’ (Horace: Epodes, VII)
v
‘Hail Triumph! Why delay the golden chariots and the unblemished steers?’ (Horace: Epodes IX)
vi‘And the opposing fleet, when ordered to larboard, remained there in the harbour.’ (Horace: Epodes IX)
vii
‘Son of the blessed gods, and greatest defender of Romulus’ people you’ve been away too long: make that
swift return you promised, to the sacred councils of the City Fathers.’ (Horace: Odes IV. 5)
viii
‘Father and guardian of the human race, son of Saturn, and the care of mighty Caesar was given you by fate:
may you reign forever with Caesar below.’ (Horace: Odes I. 12)
ix
Note that in this passage Caesar refers to Augustus
x The Secular Festival
xi
‘You will never know anything mightier than Rome!’ (Horace: Carmen Saeculare)
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