1. Augustus & the Principate
Another Level to the Aeneid

2. Virgil’s Masterpiece
• Virgil spent 11 years on this poem, but
unfortunately died before he was finished.
• He wanted the poem to be burnt, but the
emperor Augustus would not allow this
and had it published after his death.
• The poem is now over 2000 years old and
is still considered to be one of the greatest
poems ever written…

3. A National Poem
• Written at a time of optimism, to represent a new
and exciting time.
• It gave the Romans an equivalent to Homer and
explored what they were like, what they should
be like and what they could achieve.
• The majority of Virgil’s life, Rome was in a period
of civil war, or civil war was around the corner.
• The Aeneid combines the Homeric age, with the
Augustan period, merging myth with historical
fact.
• Virgil manages to include the past, present and
future, in a way that we do not see in Homer,
through the use of prophecy, myth, Roman
legends, and finally, Stoic philosophy used by
the humans and gods in the poem

4. A Brief History of Rome…
• After the founding of Rome, there were
seven kings. (as you will find out later)
• The last king was ousted by Brutus (not
that one, an ancestor!) and the Republic
was created. 509 B.C.
• The Romans were very proud of the way
Rome was run and feared those who
sought absolute power.
• This was the problem with Caesar.

5. Brutus the Second
• Brutus and Cassius killed Caesar and
were hailed by many as saviours of the
Republic 44BC.
• Many Romans feared a dictator or king
coming to power again.
• At this point Octavian (Caesar’s nephew)
was at the time of Caesar’s death but
returned to Rome to claim his inheritance.

6. Civil War
• 48 B.C. – end of civil war between
Caesar and Pompey.
• After Octavian returns, another period of
civil war between him, Brutus and
Cassius.
• Another possibility of civil war with
Antony over leadership, but Octavian
splits the empire three ways between
himself, Antony and Lepidus - The
Second Triumvirate

7. Battle of Actium
• Tension rises with Antony and Octavian but
Antony marries Octavian’s sister
• Lepidus and Octavian fall out – Octavian now
has complete power over the west, whilst Antony
has the East.
• Antony had been living in the East with
Cleopatra, who had an illegitimate son with
Caesar called Caesarion, Antony called him
King of Kings – direct attack on Octavian’s
inheritance.
• Octavian used this to portray Antony as a
defector from Rome, who had created an
independent Eastern Empire.

8. Battle of Actium 2
• When senators loyal to Antony attack Augustus
in the senate, Augustus reacts so strongly that
they flee to Egypt.
• Augustus then claimed that they were setting up
their own senate in Egypt.
• Octavian then seized Antony’s will and published
it – within it Antony stated he wanted to be
buried next to Cleopatra in Egypt
• Octavian showed this to be a betrayal of Rome
and his sister, and waged war against Cleopatra
– not another civil war.

9. Defeated
• Cleopatra and Antony were easily defeated in Egypt.
• They both committed suicide and their son and
Caesarion were killed by Octavian.
• Octavian had now become the single most powerful
man in the Roman world and had to protect his
position.
• Aware of the Romans’ feelings about dictatorship
Octavian did everything he could to show he did not
want absolute power.
• If he was ever bestowed with honours, he made it
appear as though it was the senate’s idea and often
refused.
• He even claimed he would resign at one point, and the
senate fearing another civil war (by those who sought
his position) begged him to stay.

10. The Customs of the Ancestors
• More power than any other citizen, yet no
one could claim he wanted to be king or
dictator.
• Augustus - return to the golden age, or
returning to the mos maiorum, customs of the
ancestors.
• Long period of civil war, the Romans were
optimistic and believed Augustus could save
them.
• Augustus promoted piety, marriage, proper
behaviour, peace, family life and started a
building regime.

11. Augustan Propaganda
• Augustus presented himself as the ideal Roman
citizen – pietas, auctoritas (like Aeneas)
• He wanted to be viewed as a father to the
Roman people and under Maecenas, his friend,
many poets were encouraged to write pro –
Augustan literature.
• Maecenas supported and influenced struggling
poets.
• This literature highlighted and praised Augustus’
ideals, e.g. Horace’s ode on the battle of Actium.

12. The Aeneid
• Virgil attempted to write an epic both showing
the greatness of the Roman race (and what they
could become) and linking the hero with their
hero – Augustus.
• The legend was developed, made more well
known and used to highlight a link between
Augustus and both Aeneas and the gods.
• Augustus is represented as the culmination of
years of history and his rule is made to appear
fated.
• He would make Rome glorious again.

13. Looking Forward
Crucial book in the development of Aeneas’
character and resolution. Everything that has gone
before is summarised in it, and all the events of the
rest of the poem take their starting point.
First 2/3 of book – Aeneas is backward looking,
regretful, uncertain.
After meeting with Anchises – strengthened and
resolved in his mission.
Aeneas is left ‘fired with glory to come’