Augustus & Religion

Romans and Religion Romans identified TRADITION with religion Religion symbolised what Rome was about Military success stemmed from religious piety Religion was how social order was maintained The Aeneid shows that Roman supremacy was achieved because of the gods AND Roman piety

The Republic What elements did Augustus blame for the breakdown of society in the First Century BC? He believed: poor morals were to blame – secular as well as religious No evidence that Religion was in decline BUT the Romans saw disaster and looked for reasons THE RESCUE OF RELIGION SYMBOLISED THE PRESERVATION OF ORDER

Religion and Identity Religion characterised Rome Foreign forces coming into Rome – How? “Augustus had championed the traditions of the West (Rome) over the East (Egypt)” (Scullard) Rejection and the defeat of foreign peoples allowed Augustus to create more unity: Religion reinforced a Roman identity

Terminology pax deorum – peace of the gods – this is what Augustus brought to Rome ius divinum – divine law – observance of this = piety (pietas) “The Augustan Peace must rest upon the pax deorum” (Scullard)

Religious Reforms Augustus’s religious policy reflected his genuine conservative inclinations, as well as his increasing political know-how Wanted to return to traditional Roman values Wanted to strengthen new regime Wanted to bring about permanent improvement Wanted to win support of pious conservatives (who believed everything had gone wrong because traditional gods had been ignored)

How did he do it? Revived priestly colleges (eg Vestals), cults (eg Lares), festivals (eg Lupercalia), appointments (High Priest of Jupiter – the Flamen Dialis) Created new patrician families from which to recruit for new colleges Became member of each male college himself Became Pontifex Maximus (head of the Roman religion) in 12 BC Built new temples Restored 82 temples Emphasised link of Julian family with divine nature Encouraged worship of deities associated with common people (e.g. Lares guarded crossroads and the home) and divided city in 265 districts, each with own shrine Associated worship of his own family and fortune with the worship of the Lares, so making people regard him as their guardian Re-established the Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games) in 17 BC Allowed the development of an Imperial Cult Restored the lustrum (Res Gestae: 8)

Augustus from the Via Labicana Veiled to give sacrifice Shown as Pontifex Maximus As Chief Priest, for instance, he increased privileges of the Vestals Appointed a new Flamen Dialis - Lucius Cornelius Merula was the last in 87 BC who killed himself calling down curses on his enemies with his dying breath Servius Maluginensis was the choice of Augustus What effect might this have on the people of Rome?

Augustus and Religious Roles Member of college of: Pontiffs Augurs Fratres Arvales Fetiales etc Read Suetonius: Divus Augustus, 31 How does this chapter illustrate Augustus’s attitude to religion and his position in it?

The Lares The Lares were spirits that guarded crossroads and homes Augustus made himself linked to this as his Genius (spirit that guarded his fortunes) was linked to their worship – both cults were under the same auspices The inference was that Augustus guarded the people of Rome and Italy

Ludi Saeculares, 17 BC Secular Games – celebrated every 110 years Games, celebrations, performances of plays Key roles played by Augustus and Agrippa Sacrifices to various gods Ceremony of thanksgiving for the passing of a period of danger and opening of an age of tranquillity Consultation of sacred Sybilline Books Performance of a special hymn by the poet Horace which celebrated the achievements of Augustus

Pontifex Maximus Who was Pontifex Maximus until 12 BC? Lepidus Why had he not been able to take on this role fully? What did this role do for Augustus? Formalise his role as head of State religion Allowed him to integrate religious ideology more fully into his political agenda.

Lustrum Term for five-year period of time Originally a sacrifice for purification offered by one of the censors Held in the republic, but became less frequent until Augustus restored it in 28 BC Symbol of peace and good order (as restored by Augustus)

The Imperial Cult Identified emperors and some members of their families with the divinely sanctioned authority of the Roman State The Imperial cult was inseparable from that of Rome's official deities, whose cult was essential to Rome's survival and whose neglect was therefore treasonous. 29 BC: Octavian dedicated the temple of the Divus Julius at the site of Caesar's cremation Not only had he dutifully, legally and officially honoured his adoptive father as a divus of the Roman state, he had come into being through the Julian star and was therefore the divi filius (son of the divinity) But where Caesar had failed, Octavian had succeeded: he had restored the pax deorum (divinely ordained peace) and re-founded Rome 27 BC he accepted the elevated title of Augustus

Augustus on the Ara Pacis What is the image of Augustus on the Ara Pacis? What does this show Augustus doing/what role is he cast in? Why was this a good role to be seen in?

Temple Building Programme Read Res Gestae (19) & Suetonius: Divus Augustus (29) List the temples in your notes Model of the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine (dedicated October 28 BC)

Lupercal Cave celebrated in the story of Romulus and Remus – where they were suckled by the she-wolf Repaired/rebuilt by Augustus Discovered under Augustus’ House in 2007 Why might this be relevant?

The Pulvinar See Res Gestae (19) Shrine built into the seating below the Palatine Hill Used as an imperial box to watch the games in the Circus Maximus and where images of the gods were installed after having been brought in procession (pompa) from the Capitol

Restorations Res Gestae (20.4): “In my sixth consulship (28 BC), I restored 82 Temples of the gods in the city on the authority of the Senate, neglecting none that required restoration at that time.” Capitoline Jupiter (great Temple of Jupiter, Juno & Minerva on the Capitoline Hill) - Res Gestae (20.1) Portico at Flaminian Circus - Res Gestae (19.1) Both references assures us that he allowed the builders to keep dedications and not take them over – why in each case, do you think? How did restoration of temples reinforce Augustus’ propaganda message?

The Fasti The Fasti very loosely translates as ‘sacred days’ Augustus made sure that these days were inscribed in public everywhere Shows days sacred for him: 7th Jan – His first command 13th Jan – “restoration” of the Republic 17th Jan – marriage to Livia 30th Jan – dedication of Ara Pacis ……etc……. Shows him celebrated in context of traditional religion “Augustus restored tradition in order to become part of it; he received a religious definition of Roman identity in order to identify himself with Rome.” (Wallace-Hadrill)

Emperor Worship Did not want to be worshipped in West – all roles and imagery fell short of out-right deification Main objection was to being a god to Roman citizens – no, he was their equal Eastern provinces used to worshipping rulers and so Augustus allowed it there Did also allow an altar in Gaul to ‘Roma and Augustus’ (12 BC) to promote unity and squash rebellion He was deified and worshipped after his death

So how do we characterise his religious policies? “We should not look for a single ‘religious policy’, a single catch–all definition of his position. Rather we should observe the variety of ways in which he blurred the boundaries between the human and divine, and achieved for himself an ambiguous, but crucial role astride the two.” (Wallace-Hadrill)