At the end of his life the emperor Augustus wrote an account of his achievements in which he reviewed his rise to power, his conquest of the world, and his unparalleled generosity towards his subjects. This edition provides a new text, translation and detailed commentary – the first substantial one in English for more than four decades – which is suitable for use by students of all levels. The commentary deals with linguistic, stylistic, and historical matters. It elucidates how Augustus understood his role in Roman society, and how he wished to be remembered by posterity; and it sets this picture that emerges from the Res Gestae into the context of the emergence both of a new visual language and of an official set of expressions. The book also includes illustrations in order to demonstrate how the Augustan era witnessed the rise of a whole new visual language.
Alison E. Cooley is Senior Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick. Recent books include Becoming Roman, Writing Latin? Literacy and Epigraphy in the Roman West (2002, edited), and Pompeii (2004).
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
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© Alison E. Cooley 2009
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 2009
Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge
A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication dataAugustus, Emperor of Rome, 63 BC–14 AD[Res gestae divi Augusti. English and Latin]Res gestae divi Augusti / text, translation, and commentary,Alison E. Cooley.p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and indexes.ISBN 978-0-521-84152-8 (hbk.) – ISBN 978-0-521-60128-3 (pbk.)1. Rome – History – Augustus, 30 BC–14 AD 2. Augustus, Emperor of Rome,63 BC–14 AD I. Cooley, Alison. II. Title.DG279.A413 2009937′.07 – dc222008055927
ISBN 978-0-521-84152-8 hardback
ISBN 978-0-521-60128-3 paperback
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
For Paul
List of illustrations
|
viii |
Preface
|
xi |
List of abbreviations
|
xii |
Maps 1–4
|
xiv |
Introduction
|
1 |
1 ‘Queen of inscriptions’
|
1 |
2 RGDA at Rome
|
3 |
3 RGDA in its provincial contexts
|
6 |
a Ancyra
|
7 |
b Antioch near Pisidia
|
13 |
c Apollonia
|
16 |
d Mechanisms for publication
|
18 |
4 The language of the RGDA
|
22 |
a Stylistic characteristics of the Latin text
|
22 |
b Features of the Greek translation
|
26 |
5 The messages of the RGDA
|
30 |
6 Date of composition
|
42 |
7 Transmission of the text and previous study of the monuments
|
43 |
a Ancyra
|
43 |
b Pisidian Antioch
|
46 |
c Apollonia
|
47 |
8 Reinterpretations of the RGDA
|
48 |
a Roman responses
|
48 |
b Mussolini and the RGDA
|
51 |
Res Gestae Divi Augusti: text and translation
|
57 |
Commentary
|
102 |
Appendix
|
279 |
Bibliography
|
282 |
Index locorum
|
302 |
General index
|
305 |
1 City of Rome
|
xiv |
2 Roman forum
|
xv |
3 Asia Minor
|
xvi |
4 Roman empire and beyond
|
xvii |
5 Egypt, Arabia, and Aethiopia
|
226 |
1 Augustus’ acclamations as imperator
|
122 |
2 Animal hunts organized by Augustus
|
209 |
1 Mausoleum of Augustus
|
4 |
2 Temple of Rome and Augustus, Ancyra
|
8 |
3 Temple of Rome and Augustus, Ancyra: ground plan
|
9 |
4 RGDA, Latin version at Ancyra
|
10 |
5 RGDA, Greek version at Ancyra
|
11 |
6 Architectural context of RGDA at Pisidian Antioch
|
15 |
7 Context of RGDA at Apollonia
|
17 |
8 Res Gestae, as reinscribed for Mussolini on the outer wall of the Ara Pacis museum, Rome
|
52 |
9 Octavian, defender of liberty. Cistophorus of Ephesus, 28 bc
|
110 |
10 Antony's head bound with a wreath of ivy; bust of Octavia upon a cista mystica
|
111 |
11 Octavian, veiled and laureate, driving a plough drawn by oxen
|
119 |
12 Gemma Augustea
|
125 |
13 Augustus and Agrippa as colleagues
|
133 |
14 Statue of Augustus, from the via Labicana, Rome
|
136 |
15 Augustus’ accumulation of priesthoods
|
137 |
16 Diagram indicating decorative scheme on Ara Pacis Augustae
|
155 |
17 Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome: interior scene of sacrifice
|
157 |
18 Comparison of coin and intaglio
|
163 |
19 Gaius and Lucius as principes iuventutis
|
167 |
20 Temple of deified Julius
|
186 |
21 Inscribed column
|
196 |
22 Greater Armenia: royal succession
|
230 |
23 Media Atropatene: royal succession (incorporating Greater Armenia from ad 3/4)
|
233 |
24 Laureate head of Augustus accompanied by the legend ‘of god Caesar benefactor’; diademed head of Artavasdes, with the legend
‘of great king Artavasdes’
|
234 |
25 Long-haired bearded barbarian on his knees, holding out a military standard
|
242 |
26 Cuirass of Prima Porta statue of Augustus
|
244 |
27 Standards recovered from the Parthians
|
245 |
28 Temple of Mars the Avenger
|
245 |
29 Parthia: Arsacid royal succession
|
252 |
30 Restoration of constitutional government
|
259 |
31 Civic crown and laurels
|
262 |
32 Altar of Rome and Augustus
|
263 |
33 Honours at Augustus’ house
|
266 |
34 Copy of the clupeus virtutis from Arles
|
267 |
35 ‘Belvedere’ altar
|
268 |
36 Altar of the gens Augusta, Carthage
|
269 |
37 Shield of virtues
|
270 |
38 Augustus as parens and conservator
|
274 |
Fig. 1: by kind permission of Prof. H. von Hesberg; Figs. 2, 4–5: photos by Prof. S. Mitchell; Figs. 8, 14, 17, 34: photos by A. E. Cooley, reproduced by kind permission of Prof. E. La Rocca, Sovraintendenza ai Beni Culturali del Comune di Roma, and Dr C. Sintès, Musée Archéologique d’Arles; Figs. 9, 13, 15, 19, 20, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 37: by kind permission of Richard Abdy, British Museum, London; Figs. 10, 11, 21, 25: reproduced by kind permission of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; Figs. 18, 24, 31, 38: © The Trustees of the British Museum; Figs. 12, 26, 35, 36: photographs courtesy of the Syndics of the Cambridge University Library.