During an election year, we as Americans are bombard with campaign aids and media coverage for each presidential candidate running for office. Throughout the 90s we regularly saw the abundance of anti-smoking aids, and through high school history class, we’ve seen the posters with Uncle Sam or Rosie the Riveter during the times of the World wars. The point of this short history lesson is that while the concept of propaganda is treated as a new concept with only modern day uses, the employment of propaganda dates as far back as the Roman Empire. Roman emperors from the time of Augustus till the time of Emperor Constantine have used propaganda through many public works. Through these works, and through the works of some ancient Roman historians …show more content…
He was given the name Augustus by the Roman senate and he used many outlets of propaganda during his reign. These outlets ranged from minor details found on construction projects, such as the symbol of fasces on the theater of Marcellus, to large monuments and works of art depicting Augustus’ various strengths a leader. One such work is a well-known Augustan monument called the Ara Pacis, or the altar of Augustan peace. The altar was dedicated to Pax, the Roman goddess of Peace, and was commissioned by the senate to honor Augustus’ return to Rome after three years abroad. The “Lupercal Panel” depicting the moment when Romulus and Remus are discovered by the Shepherd is considered to be a reminder of Augustus’ deified heritage. The other panel on the West wall of the altar has caused some recent debate. Originally thought to be a depiction from a scene from Virgil’s Aeneid, when Aeneas sacrificed a pig and her 30 piglets to Juno, now entertains the possibility of depicting Numa Pompilius, the Roman king associated with Peace and the Gates of Janus. Either scene can still be attributed to Augustan propaganda because like the previous panel, the scene being shown is acting as either a nod to …show more content…
His own writing called the Res Gestae, meaning **Great Works**, was in its most basic form a list of all the great deeds, construction projects, and many other things that Augustus did for Rome. Augustus, like his predecessor before him, exploited the mythology that his family line is descended from the Trojan hero, Aeneas and his mother, the goddess Venus. He hired many Roman poets, such as Horace, Ovid, and Virgil. The Aeneid by Virgil is one of the best examples of literary propaganda, specifically in book 7 and 8. In book 7, Aeneas travels to the underworld. There he encounters many of his friends, who died either at Troy or during their travels. In this chapter while Aeneas is talking with his recently deceased father, he noticed a young man by the name of Marcellus who us destined to die young. Marcellus was Augustus’s nephew and one of his prospective heirs. In book 8, the shield Aeneas receives from Venus and Vulcan is another obvious aspect of Augustan propaganda. The shield is decorated with events from Roman history beginning with Romulus and Remus begin taken in by the she-wolf, Lupa. Next Horatius in standing at the bridge, where he will single-handedly holding off the forces of the Etruscans who want to make Rome bow to kings again. Finally, right in the center, is the Battle of Actium, showing Augustus Caesar in defeating the combined powers of Mark Antony and
One major contrast between the two is that in Dillard’s article, the main sculptures created by the Etruscans were the human like figures that stood flat footed as for the in the book Benton and DiYanni wrote on page 131, the twin infants added in the Renaissance actually became the symbol of Rome making the figures less important than what Dillard described them
In The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus, Paul Zanker argues that images were a central tool in the construction of cultural identity and political power during the reign of Augustus. Through his analysis of the use of myth and legend in Augustus's cultural propaganda, Zanker demonstrates how Augustus employed images to create a sense of cultural continuity with the past while simultaneously promoting a new vision of Rome based on his own accomplishments as a ruler. Zanker's analysis sheds light on the profound impact of Augustus's propaganda campaign on Roman art and architecture and highlights the critical role of the image of the emperor in Augustan political culture. Zanker's main argument is that images played a central role in the
Some documents portray him as this positive image but he had done some problematic things (such as ordering his man to smash a baby against a wall). For instance, when there was a naming ceremony, he chose Augustus. According to the document Cassius Dio wrote, it states, "Octavian took the title of Augustus signifying he was more than human; for all the most precious and sacred objects were named Augusta" Augustus thought he was more than human, thinking he was more special than everyone else. Augusta was arrogant choosing a name like this.
The bust depicts Marcus Aurelius as the perfect rule, the “philosopher king”. He wears a cuirass (military tunic and cloak). Capitoline Brutus gives off a serious business-like expression that makes you believe it is an honorary sculpture. Bust of Marcus Aurelius displays a more standard Roman sculpture and his face has softer details. Capitoline Brutus had the characteristics of Italic and Greek sculpture styles
Even though the ivory relief has a religious overtone, both are clearly done in the Old and New Rome classical esthetic. “Cast in glittering bronze, like the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius set up nearly 500 years earlier, it attests to the continuity between the art Old and New Rome, where pompous imperial images were commonly displayed at the apex of free standing columns” (Kleiner 258). Both art pieces are a classic example of power, prestige and clemency during their time of
“A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of march. ”(pg 1102) Beware something bad is going to happen. “Amid violent thunder and lightning a terrified casca fears.” (pg 1110)
There seems to be a prevalent trope in ruler of the ancient world. Leaders of this era all seem to be obsessed with their own excellence and accomplishments, expressing largely this egotism in self-referential written propaganda. For instance, such a tone and intention is found in Res Gestae, written by Caesar Augustus, successor of Julius Caesar. Res Gestae was written by Augustus in the year of his death. Augustus knew that before he passed away he had to leave a testament of his greatness, which stressed a specific person who people would find honorable.
Influential people deserve marvelous things and Augustus was an Influential person and this is why he deserves a statue. Augustus was a great leader who has done much for Rome and its people. Augustus Caesar 's statue should have a place in our city because he started Pax Romana; he had many great reforms and he was a great leader who led by example. All these reasons make him a significant part of our history and someone who deserves a memorial. Augustus had many achievements which changed the future of Rome and one of his biggest accomplishments has been Pax Romana.
Augustus once stated, “I found Rome built of brick and left it in marble.” This one quote by Augustus himself is enough to summarize his remarkable reign over Rome for over forty years. An heir to his much beloved great-uncle, Julius Caesar, Augustus is considered to be the first emperor of Rome. Octavian, who later was bestowed the name Augustus by the Senate, rose to power through avenging his adopted father’s murder (“Augustus”). Rome under Augustus flourished in respect to trade, defense, and literature.
“Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity. We can choose to use this force constructively with words of encouragement, or destructively using words of despair. Words have energy and power with the ability to help, to heal, to hinder, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate and to humble.” -Yehuda Berg. Words are an important part to everyday life.
The dramatically different ways in which Homer and Virgil depict defining moments within their epics, perfectly sheds light upon the different intentions of between their epics. Even in spite of Homer’s work serving as a clear influence to Vergil’s work, the varying intent of the two epics lead to a completely different story. In essence, the purpose for Homer’s epic is primarily to entertain the audience, while the other is to serve as a piece of political propaganda and affirm the greatness of Rome. Furthermore, the different depictions of the underworld, along with the imagery adorned on the shields also communicate another key difference,which is the author’s perspective on the purpose of life. Overall, regardless of Homer’s influence
“If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it”- Julius Caesar, the man who is known as one of the most fascinating political figures of all time. The one who through his military genius, expanded the Roman Republic to include parts of what are now Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. Although the hero had many followers and admirers, he was ultimately stabbed to death by his own fellow politicians. Caesar was born in July, 100 B.C.E to Gaius Caesar and Aurelia. The family claimed a noble history but hadn’t produced many influential people till then.
In these cases, abstract sculptures such as Cubi XVIII, are made for the sole purpose of amusing the viewer with their seemingly weightless and oddly assembled nature. Other sculptures can be beneficial when used as a religious icon, depicting an important symbol or event, or most commonly, a political figure. The Augustus of Prima
The bust of Commodus is one of the most famous masterpieces of Roman portraiture and depicts the emperor as the reincarnation of the hero Hercules. Commodus is seen wearing the lion 's skin over his head, holding the club in his right hand, and the golden apple of Hesperides in his left hand as a reminder of how he is seen to be as the Greek hero Hercules. Two Amazon women are kneeling on the base beside a globe with the sign of the zodiac. These zodiac signs show important moments in Commodus’s life. On top of the globe is a cornucopia with the Amazon’s shield, one long enough to almost cover his torso.
In a Roman Osteria Carl Bloch, In a Roman Osteria, 1866, Oil on Canvas, 177.5 (w) x 148.5 (h)cm (without frame), Rome. Introduction Carl Bloch’s In a Roman Osteria was completed in 1866 with Oil on Canvas. It is currently found in Rome. I decided to write about this artwork considering it is a little comical to me and very interesting considering there are a couple things that can be going on.