Roman Myth and and Symbols of Power

Augustus

right, augustus! i'm a bit of an expert on him, if i do say so myself (combo of the cleo AH thematic study + doing latin and roman history for the past 5 years? at this point oct/aug is my bestie)

RIGHT so in 63 bce he was born as gaius octavius thurinus (call 'im octavian) and he was the adoptive son of caesar and the birth son of his rich dad. casar was his great-uncle. when he was 19 (the age is debated, i read 16 somewhere) caesar was assasinated by literally the whole senate. caesar's will said that octavian was his heir and adoptive son.

octavian became  consul and got an army and declared brutus and cassius (caesar's murderers) enemies of the state. then octavian made the 2nd decemvirate with antony and lepidus. those 3 defeated brutus and cassius @ the battle of philippi, brutus and cassius commited suicid3. 

the triumvirate go on the rule rome for 10 years and then lepidus was exiled for almost inciting a revolt. octavian wanted complete power over so he went to the temple of vesta where the wills were kept (this was not ok, this was illegal but no-one cares...?) and read antony's. (i mean he could've made it up) his will said that antony had married cleo, and all of east rome was left to cleo + their kids. octavian told the roman ppl, who were angry, battle of actium, cleo and antony DIE

now octavian is 33 and, according to the (dramatic) textbook, the 'last man standing'. he 'relinquished' complete power (the man is still powerful ok) and he got the name augustus, meaning 'venerated or respected'.

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The Architecture of Augustan Rome

Augustus spread propaganda in his architecture. these were the 'goals' of the architecture

• Recreate the golden age of architecture - he was inspired by 5th century greece and kind of copied the parthenon. this goal is just makin' rome look swagg
• pax romana- 'the peace of rome' is a big thing…