Res Gestae Divi Res Gestae Divi AugustiAugusti

The accomplishments of the The accomplishments of the Divine AugustusDivine Augustus

Augustus’ MausoleumAugustus’ Mausoleum

RES GESTAERES GESTAE

Roman AutobiographyRoman Autobiography

Roots in Classical Greek literary tradition Roots in Classical Greek literary tradition and native Latin traditionsand native Latin traditions

Modern conception of autobiography: Modern conception of autobiography: personal self-revelation including personal self-revelation including education, upbringing, emotional education, upbringing, emotional development, etc.,development, etc.,

Greeks liked to write about themselves: Greeks liked to write about themselves: Hesiods wrote about his conflict with his Hesiods wrote about his conflict with his brother and the leading magistrates of his brother and the leading magistrates of his days – not really autobiography days – not really autobiography

Greek autobiographyGreek autobiography Memoirs (still popular today)Memoirs (still popular today) Xenophon: The Anabasis (The March up Xenophon: The Anabasis (The March up

Country) 400 BCECountry) 400 BCE Xenophon enlisted as a mercenary in the Xenophon enlisted as a mercenary in the

army of the Persian Cyrus who tried to army of the Persian Cyrus who tried to remove his brother from power. Attempt remove his brother from power. Attempt failed, Cyrus died, failed, Cyrus died,

Anabasis tells march of 10,000 Greek Anabasis tells march of 10,000 Greek mercenaries from Mesopotamia all the way mercenaries from Mesopotamia all the way back to the Black Seaback to the Black Sea

Xenophon became leader of this army and Xenophon became leader of this army and wrote story 20 years after he experienced itwrote story 20 years after he experienced it

Greek Greek Autobiography

44thth century – several autobiographies of century – several autobiographies of various shapes: various shapes:

orator Isocrates – in a defence speech orator Isocrates – in a defence speech (Antidosis from 354 BCE) provides history (Antidosis from 354 BCE) provides history of his entire life – education, etc.of his entire life – education, etc.

Orator Demosthenes in a speech Orator Demosthenes in a speech On the On the CrownCrown in 330 BCE, includes autobiography in 330 BCE, includes autobiography of his entire life and careerof his entire life and career

Plato: in the Plato: in the Seventh Letter Seventh Letter gives detailed gives detailed account of his actionsaccount of his actions

Roman autobiographyRoman autobiography Embraced in Late RepublicEmbraced in Late Republic Different types and terms: Greek terms taken Different types and terms: Greek terms taken

over from Greeks, own traditionover from Greeks, own tradition hypomnemahypomnema (Greek term) =any sort of memoir (Greek term) =any sort of memoir ephemerisephemeris (Greek term)= diary (Greek term)= diary commentariuscommentarius (pl. (pl. commentariicommentarii) Latin term -) Latin term -

=private journal=private journal autobiography becomes important in extremely autobiography becomes important in extremely

competitive political environment of the Late competitive political environment of the Late RepublicRepublic

Generals on campaigns sent back reports to Generals on campaigns sent back reports to Roman senateRoman senate

Roman autobiographyRoman autobiography At first was a private genreAt first was a private genre By early 2By early 2ndnd century BCE became public as century BCE became public as

a tool in competition for officea tool in competition for office 190 BCE Scipio Africanus published 190 BCE Scipio Africanus published

pamphlet in which he detailed all his pamphlet in which he detailed all his victories against Carthage in Spain and victories against Carthage in Spain and against Hannibalagainst Hannibal

Cato, the elder included autobiographical Cato, the elder included autobiographical material into his public speechesmaterial into his public speeches

By early 1By early 1stst century BCE common practice century BCE common practice for members of the elite to write and for members of the elite to write and publish their memoirs publish their memoirs (hypomnemata(hypomnemata))

commentariuscommentarius ((commentarii)commentarii)

Developed out of the private diary – originally Developed out of the private diary – originally just the bare factsjust the bare facts

Accounts of one’s actions in campaigns had Accounts of one’s actions in campaigns had its roots in military diaries of Greek Kings its roots in military diaries of Greek Kings (Pyrrhus) and in practice of honorary and (Pyrrhus) and in practice of honorary and funerary inscriptions set up by members of funerary inscriptions set up by members of Roman elite Roman elite

Roman funerary inscriptions included offices, Roman funerary inscriptions included offices, honors, accomplishments, military conquests, honors, accomplishments, military conquests, etc.etc.

Practice even emulated by lower classes who Practice even emulated by lower classes who included their (more humble) included their (more humble) accomplishments, i.e. the baker accomplishments, i.e. the baker Eurisakes Eurisakes

Tomb of Caecilia MetellaTomb of Caecilia Metellavery aristocratic wealthy familyvery aristocratic wealthy family

Tomb of the baker Tomb of the baker EurysakesEurysakes

Tomb of the Baker Tomb of the Baker EurysakesEurysakes

commentariicommentarii

Sulla Sulla was the first politician to use was the first politician to use commentarii commentarii to establish his public imageto establish his public image

23 books of diaries mostly his military 23 books of diaries mostly his military campaigns, nothing political, nothing campaigns, nothing political, nothing personal, but also included dreams and personal, but also included dreams and portents advertising divine support for his portents advertising divine support for his rise to powerrise to power

Sulla’s diary provided the model for Iulius Sulla’s diary provided the model for Iulius Caesar’s Caesar’s commentariicommentarii

Iulius Caesar’s Iulius Caesar’s CommentariiCommentarii A very highly polished form of A very highly polished form of commentariicommentarii Added literary components not really part of a Added literary components not really part of a

commentarius,commentarius, used as model Xenophon’s used as model Xenophon’s Anabasis : Anabasis : third-person narrative, speeches, third-person narrative, speeches, digressions into geography, customs of Gauls digressions into geography, customs of Gauls etc., etc.,

Purpose: politicalPurpose: political Important for him to convey his Important for him to convey his virtutesvirtutes his his

intelligence, military genius, decisiveness, intelligence, military genius, decisiveness, common sense, common sense, clementiaclementia,, his respect for his his respect for his soldiers, soldiers,

wrote both for Romans and for new Gallic elitewrote both for Romans and for new Gallic elite

Augustus’ autobiographiesAugustus’ autobiographies de vita suaede vita suae now lost – have only about 24 now lost – have only about 24

fragments – ends in 25 BCEfragments – ends in 25 BCE Res Gestae Divi AugustiRes Gestae Divi Augusti – extremely important – extremely important

official document that survived, covers his entire official document that survived, covers his entire rule.rule.

Not a narrative, but 1Not a narrative, but 1stst person review of his office person review of his office and actionsand actions

Set up on bronze tablets on his mausoleum in Set up on bronze tablets on his mausoleum in RomeRome

Another copy in Ankara, and other sites in Turkey Another copy in Ankara, and other sites in Turkey – allowed Archaeologists to paste document – allowed Archaeologists to paste document togethertogether

The purpose of the The purpose of the De Vita De Vita SuaeSuae

Augustus’ biography (now lost), an early Augustus’ biography (now lost), an early work – only goes as far as 25 BCEwork – only goes as far as 25 BCE

Purpose Purpose – propaganda - to respond to – propaganda - to respond to criticism of his actions after Caesar’s death criticism of his actions after Caesar’s death and to improve his reputation and public and to improve his reputation and public image: areas include his birth, his cruelty image: areas include his birth, his cruelty

His position was solidified after Actium and His position was solidified after Actium and by constitutional settlements of 27 and 23 by constitutional settlements of 27 and 23 BCE – his biography had served its purpose BCE – his biography had served its purpose – he required no more justification for his – he required no more justification for his positionposition

The ‘other’ AugustusThe ‘other’ Augustus 44 BCE attempts to kill Marcus Antonius; 44 BCE attempts to kill Marcus Antonius;

Octavian had hired assassins to get rid of Octavian had hired assassins to get rid of him him

43 BCE was involved in the proscriptions 43 BCE was involved in the proscriptions (including the one of Cicero)(including the one of Cicero)

42 BCE brought head of Brutus to Rome 42 BCE brought head of Brutus to Rome 40 BCE – earned the name of “Butcher of 40 BCE – earned the name of “Butcher of

Perusia” , Italian town that had provided Perusia” , Italian town that had provided sanctuary for assassins’ party – had 300 sanctuary for assassins’ party – had 300 senators and Equestrians of Perusia killed senators and Equestrians of Perusia killed on the Ides of March 40 BCE on the altar of on the Ides of March 40 BCE on the altar of Iulius CaesarIulius Caesar

Res GestaeRes Gestae (RG) (RG) Modeled on Roman tradition to inscribe honours Modeled on Roman tradition to inscribe honours

and achievements on and achievements on triumphal archestriumphal arches Also modeled on honorific texts (inscriptions) Also modeled on honorific texts (inscriptions)

elogia -elogia - where only honours included nothing where only honours included nothing negativenegative

Res GestaeRes Gestae – content very selective – only – content very selective – only positive aspects of Augustus’ principatepositive aspects of Augustus’ principate

Looks like scrutiny account that had to be Looks like scrutiny account that had to be submitted to the senate by magistrate at end of submitted to the senate by magistrate at end of his term his term

Only includes official acts, does not mention Only includes official acts, does not mention family members unless in connection to official family members unless in connection to official actact

Ancient Opinions of Ancient Opinions of AugustusAugustus

Augustus’ ForumAugustus’ Forum

The Augustan ForumThe Augustan Forum

http://www.vroma.org/images/mcmanus_images/forumaugplan.jpg

Augustus set up 108 statues of great Augustus set up 108 statues of great Romans in his forum with their Romans in his forum with their elogiaelogia

Res GestaeRes Gestae drafted in same years as drafted in same years as forum of Augustus constructed (20-2 forum of Augustus constructed (20-2 BCE)BCE)

Res GestaeRes Gestae much longer than any much longer than any elogium (elogia elogium (elogia plural)

Res GestaeRes Gestae organization organization Divided into 3 sectionsDivided into 3 sections Short preface, first two paragraphs serve as Short preface, first two paragraphs serve as

introduction emphasizing his contributions introduction emphasizing his contributions to the Roman peopleto the Roman people

1. Paragraphs 3-14 lists the honors 1. Paragraphs 3-14 lists the honors received, and offices given to him by senate received, and offices given to him by senate and Roman people, and honors he gave to and Roman people, and honors he gave to his grandsonshis grandsons

2. Paragraphs 15-25 numerical account of 2. Paragraphs 15-25 numerical account of various things: money spent, games given, various things: money spent, games given, slaves captured, temples repaired, slaves captured, temples repaired, priesthoods bestowed, animals slaughtered priesthoods bestowed, animals slaughtered for games in arenafor games in arena

3. Paragraphs 26 – 33 military and 3. Paragraphs 26 – 33 military and diplomatic achievements that diplomatic achievements that furthered expansion of Roman furthered expansion of Roman imperiumimperium

The final two paragraphs 34 and 35 The final two paragraphs 34 and 35

return to themes of beginning, his return to themes of beginning, his devotion to the interests of the devotion to the interests of the Roman people and the Republic, and Roman people and the Republic, and emphasizes their gratitude to him.emphasizes their gratitude to him.

Res Gestae-Res Gestae- characteristics characteristics

Written in first person Written in first person Very selective material: period from Very selective material: period from

42 – 31 no discussion – the period in 42 – 31 no discussion – the period in which he developed from member of which he developed from member of a homicidal coalition to sole ruler a homicidal coalition to sole ruler

Dark period: proscriptions, civil war Dark period: proscriptions, civil war

Purpose of the Purpose of the Res GestaeRes Gestae

testament of his mission to restore testament of his mission to restore peace, the Republican government, peace, the Republican government, prosperity to Romeprosperity to Rome

Modern views on the Modern views on the Res Res GestaeGestae

hypocrisy hypocrisy of claim that he restored the of claim that he restored the republic and returned power to Senate and republic and returned power to Senate and populus Romanus populus Romanus

Valuable as a document recording what Valuable as a document recording what Augustus considered important of his reign Augustus considered important of his reign and what he wanted to suppressand what he wanted to suppress

As constitutional statement: the As constitutional statement: the princepsprinceps on one side, senate and on one side, senate and populus populus on the on the other side, other side,

Providing insight into Augustus’ philosophy Providing insight into Augustus’ philosophy on governmenton government