The Aeneid and Ancient Rome
Anchises' description of the Roman arts: |
| "Others will cast more tenderly in bronze |
| Their breathing figures, I can well believe, |
| And bring more lifelike portraits out of marble; |
| Argue more eloquently, use the pointer |
| To trace the paths of heaven accurately |
| And accurately foretell the rising stars. |
| Roman, remember by your strength to rule |
| Earth's peoples--for your arts are to be these: |
| To pacify, to impose the rule of law, |
| To spare the conquered, battle down the proud." |
Reasons for Rome's success |
| 1. pietas: citizens with a strong sense of duty |
| pius Aeneas: Aeneas is dutiful towards |
| his nation: past, present and future |
| virtus 'manliness' (<vir 'man') |
| decency, sobriety and courage |
| 2. Great practical and organizational abilities |
| from the hoplite phalanx to the maniples of the legion |
| Rome first copies, and then defeats the Carthaginian navy |
| 5. Central location in the Mediterranean |
| 6. Gradual integration and absorption of conquered peoples into Rome |
| greatly facilitated by the fall of the Republic |
| 'Romanization' of provinces and integration into empire |
| replacement of native languages with Latin in the West |
| 7. Rome expanded until it reached stable borders |
| Small villages on Tiber River in 8th c BCE |
| emanation of dynamic purpose |
| symbol of the all-powerful king |
| Other version: Romulus and Remus as highwaymen |
| death of Remus: heritage of fratricidal strife that would plague Rome |
| a century of civil war (133-31 BCE) |
| brought peace after continuous civil strife |
| traditional Roman cults and temples |
| the original "Golden Age" first established by Saturn |
| So set apart there, olive-crowned, who holds |
| The sacred vessels in his hands? I know |
| that snowy mane and beard: Numa, the king, |
| Who will build early Rome on a base of laws . . . (VI, p. 188) |
| peaceful successor to Romulus |
| built a small temple to Janus whose doors were open in war, closed in peace: |
| Will then be shut: inside, unholy Furor, |
| Squatting on cruel weapons, hands enchained |
| Behind him by a hundred links of bronze, |
| Will grind his teeth and howl with bloodied mouth." (I, pp. 13-14) |
| Numa is credited with establishing many of the rituals of Roman public life |
| goal of cults was to gain the gods' agreement to human requests |
| gods had to be appeased through prayers and offerings |
| focused on spirits of the household, field and forest |
| the Lares, spirits of departed ancestors, guarded the house |
| the Penates, guardians of grain and the household |
| Vesta: spirit of the hearth |
| Jupiter: spirit of rain and sun |
| Mars: spirit of crops and vegetation |
| supplanted by Greek anthropomorphism |
| State religion grew out of household religion |
| Vesta became goddess of the civic hearth |
The Founding of the Republic (res publica 'public business') |
| Rome grew into a city ruled by |
| a king with religious, military and judicial power |
| 'advised' by the Senate (< senex 'old man') |
| last three kings (6th c) were Etruscans |
| built temples and city walls |
| laying foundation for centuries of conflict between the classes |
| struggle for power between the Patricians and Plebians |
| Brutus and the Republic: another founder (509 BCE) |
| Do you care to to see now, too, the Tarquin kings |
| and the proud soul of the avenger, Brutus, |
| By whom the bundled "fasces" are regained? |
| Consular power will first be his, and his |
| The pitiless axes. When his own two sons |
| Plot war against the city, he will call |
| For the death penalty in freedom's name-- |
| Unhappy man, no matter how posterity |
| May see these matters. Love of the fatherland |
| Will sway him--and unmeasured lust for fame. (VI, pp. 188-9) |
| the Rape of Lucretia: another foundation myth |
| Key themes: violence, family, honor and the importance of womanly modesty |
| King replaced by two consuls serving one year terms |
| great power, but checked by each other |
| Dictator chosen in times of crisis |
| unlimited power for six months |
| paterfamilias: oldest living male |
| familia always subordinate to the state |
| individual and family ambition harnessed for the republic |
| never legally independent |
| 'handed over' to husbands |
| participated in social life |
| a hierarchical pyramid of patrons and clients |
| large clientele = prestige and power |
| clients more important than kin by marriage! |
| often served as a paradigm for foreign relations |
| Gradual: almost 2 1/2 centuries; completed in 265 BCE |
| Conquered peoples dealt with on a case by case basis |
| some cities became full citizens |
| some had rights and duties of citizens without a vote |
| some were allies, with local autonomy |
| A web of colonies spread throughout Italy |
| By 133 BCE Roman law and language dominant in Italy |
Punic Wars: From Italy to Empire |
| Aeneid "explains" enmity between Rome and Carthage |
| Carthage: a great maritime empire |
| a Phoenician colony, founded c. 750 BCE |
| monopoly on trade in western Mediterranean |
| harsh treatment of allies and subject peoples |
| Where, though I weary, do you hurry me, |
| You Fabii? Fabius Maximus, |
| You are the only soul who shall restore |
| Our wounded state by waiting out the enemy. (pp. 189-90) |
| Hannibal's invasion of Italy in Second Punic War (218-201) |
| refused to meet Hannibal in open combat |
| withdrew army and people into cities |
| similar to Pericles' strategy in war with Sparta |
| Or the twin Scipios, bright bolts of war, |
| The bane of Libya . . . (p. 189) |
| Scipio Africanus the Elder |
| one of the greatest soldiers of the ancient world |
| volunteered to lead Roman army in Spain when no one else was willing |
| defeated three Carthaginian armies there |
| pulled Hannibal out of Italy by invading Africa |
| Scipio Africanus the Younger |
| grandson of "the Elder" by adoption |
| reluctantly led the army that razed Carthage at the end of the third Punic war, 149 BCE |
| sought to maintain Rome's traditional virtues |
| and to blend Greek and Roman thought |
Conquest of Greece, 200-133 BCE |
| When Corinth is brought low, will drive his car |
| As victor and killer of Achaeans |
| To our high Capital. Paulus will conquer |
| Argos and Agamemenon's old Mycenae. |
| Defeating Perseus, the Aeacid, |
| Heir to the master of war, Achilles--thus |
| Avenging his own Trojan ancestors |
| And the defilement of Minerva's shrine. (p. 189) |
| Lucius Paulus conquers Macedonia |
| along with other plunder, brings library of king Paulus to Rome |
| granted a triumphal entry into Rome |
| puts down a Greek rebellion |
| inhabitants massacred or sold into slavery |
| all valuables transported to Rome |
| granted a triumphal entry into Rome |
| Roman virtus 'decency, sobriety and courage' has disappeared |
| conquest for plunder and glory |
| A Century of Civil War (133-31 BCE) |
| Three men dominate Rome to pursue their own goals |
| ratification of his arrangements in the east, land for his veterans |
| rebate for tax collectors, command in Syria] |
| Pompey allies himself with Senate |
| Caesar returns with his army: crosses the Rubicon |
| Civil War: Caesar defeats Pompey and the Senate's forces |
| Caesar: dictator for life, 45 BCE |
| granted citizenship to all of northern Italy and some provincial towns |
| assassinated 44 BCE by a group of senators who called themselves liberators |
| conspirators feared the restoration of kingship |
| Thirteen more years of civil war |
| Octavian, Caesar's nephew and adopted heir |
| Mark Antony, Caesar's chief lieutenant |
| Liberators defeated 42 BCE |
| Defacto division of empire between Octavian and Mark Antony |
| Octavian defeats Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium, 31 BCE |
Octavian becomes Augustus |
| establishes peace, prosperity and stability |
| the new "golden age" envisioned in the Aeneid |
Return to Lecture Topics