Prescribed literary sources: Res Gestae, Horace, Propertius, Ovid, Suetonius

Introduction to the Literary Sources

Welcome to your study of the "voices" of the Augustan Age! To understand how the Imperial Image was built, we can't just look at statues and buildings; we need to read what people were writing at the time. Some of these sources are "pro-Augustus" propaganda, while others give us a more complex (and sometimes gossipy) look at the first Emperor of Rome.

In this chapter, we will look at five key authors: Augustus himself (in the Res Gestae), the poets Horace, Propertius, and Ovid, and the biographer Suetonius. Together, they show us how Augustus transformed from a young, violent warlord into the "Father of the Country."

1. Res Gestae Divi Augusti (The Deeds of the Divine Augustus)

Think of the Res Gestae as Augustus’s ultimate resume or "LinkedIn profile." It was written by Augustus himself near the end of his life and was inscribed on bronze pillars in front of his Mausoleum. It is designed to tell the story of his reign exactly how he wanted it to be remembered.

Key Themes in the Res Gestae:

• Legitimacy: He emphasizes that he raised an army at nineteen to "liberate" the Republic. He avoids the word "warrior" and prefers to focus on his auctoritas (influence/prestige).
• Military Success: He lists the lands he conquered and the standards he recovered from the Parthians, but he portrays these as victories for Rome, not just himself.
• Pietas (Duty): He highlights how many temples he built or repaired (82 in one year!). This shows him as the restorer of Roman religion.
• Clementia (Mercy): He claims he preferred to preserve rather than destroy conquered peoples who could be pardoned.
• The Title "Augustus": He explains that he was given this name by the Senate to mark his special status.

Quick Tip: When using the Res Gestae in an essay, always mention that it is a piece of self-representation. It isn't a neutral history; it’s how Augustus wanted to be seen by future generations.

2. Horace: The "Poet Laureate" of the Regime

Horace was a poet who received support from Maecenas (Augustus’s right-hand man). His poems often celebrate the peace and moral stability Augustus brought to Rome.

Key Prescribed Poems:

• Epode 9 & Ode 1.37 (Cleopatra): These celebrate the victory at Actium. Crucially, they focus on the "evil" foreign queen Cleopatra rather than Mark Antony. This helped Augustus frame a Civil War as a patriotic war against a foreign threat.
• Ode 3.6: Horace warns that Rome's recent disasters were caused by neglecting the gods. This supports Augustus’s Culture Hero image as someone who fixed the city's morality and religion.
• Ode 3.14: Celebrates Augustus returning from Spain like a conquering hero, comparing him to Hercules.
• Ode 4.4 & 4.15: These praise Augustus for bringing the Pax Augusta (Augustan Peace) and mention his stepsons, Drusus and Tiberius, showing the importance of dynasty.
• Carmen Saeculare: A hymn written for the Secular Games. It asks the gods (especially Apollo and Diana) to bless Rome and its new era of fertility and law.

Key Takeaway: Horace’s work helps promote Augustus as a religious restorer and a bringer of peace after decades of chaos.

3. Propertius: Love and War

Propertius is an elegiac poet, which means he usually writes about love. His relationship with Augustus’s image is more complex than Horace’s.

Key Prescribed Elegies:

• Elegy 3.4: Discusses a planned campaign against Parthia. While it sounds patriotic, Propertius focuses on the riches of the East and his own role as a spectator, rather than a soldier.
• Elegy 3.11: Similar to Horace, he attacks Cleopatra to justify Augustus’s rise to power, calling her a "harlot queen."
• Elegy 3.12: A "protest" poem where he complains that war takes men away from their wives—a subtle critique of the focus on military glory.
• Elegy 4.6: This is a very pro-Augustan poem celebrating the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine and the Battle of Actium. It portrays Apollo standing on the back of Augustus's ship, literally fighting for him.

4. Ovid: Metamorphoses 15.745–870

Ovid is famous for his wit and, eventually, for being exiled by Augustus. In this specific passage from his epic Metamorphoses, he deals with the deification of Julius Caesar.

What you need to know:

• Ovid describes Julius Caesar being turned into a comet (the sidus Iulium).
• He argues that Caesar had to become a god so that his son (Augustus) wouldn't be born of mortal seed.
• He claims that although Caesar did great things, Augustus’s deeds are even greater. This is a classic way of supporting the Divi filius (Son of a God) title.

Did you know? Even though Ovid sounds very complimentary here, some scholars think he was being slightly sarcastic, as Augustus was very strict about moral laws that Ovid liked to poke fun at!

5. Suetonius: The Biographer

Suetonius wrote The Lives of the Twelve Caesars about 100 years after Augustus died. Because he wasn't writing under Augustus’s direct rule, he includes "warts and all" details—the good, the bad, and the gossipy.

Key Areas covered in the Prescribed Chapters:

• Rise to Power (Chapters 7–11, 17): Details the civil wars and the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra.
• Military and Triumphs (20–22): Discusses his role as Imperator, though Suetonius notes Augustus wasn't always the bravest soldier himself.
• Political and Moral Reform (26, 28–29, 31, 34): Covers the building of the Forum of Augustus, the moral laws on marriage/adultery, and his religious reforms.
• Personal Conduct (53, 56–58): Shows Augustus trying to appear like a normal citizen (civilitas) rather than a king. He refused the title of "Lord."
• Family Scandals (64–65): Suetonius doesn't hide the heartbreak Augustus felt over the "immoral" behavior of his daughter Julia.
• Habits and Appearance (68–71, 79): Gives us "behind the scenes" info, like Augustus's fear of lightning, his simple diet, and his physical appearance (spotty skin and clear eyes).
• Signs of Divinity (95): Lists the omens and dreams that predicted Augustus would rule the world.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mixing up the dates: Remember that Suetonius is writing much later than the poets. He has the benefit of hindsight, while Horace and Propertius are living through the events.

2. Taking the Res Gestae as "Fact": Students often forget that the Res Gestae is political spin. If Augustus says he "restored liberty," you should explain that he actually took total control but called it liberty.

3. Ignoring the Audience: Always ask: Who was this written for? Horace wrote for the elite of Rome; the Res Gestae was for everyone in the Empire; Suetonius was for later Romans who wanted to know what the great Augustus was "really" like.

Key Takeaways for Revision

• Augustus: Focuses on his own achievements, religion (pietas), and legal right to rule.
• Horace: Promotes the Golden Age, moral reform, and the Pax Augusta.
• Propertius: Mixes patriotic praise (especially of Apollo) with personal themes of love.
• Ovid: Connects Augustus to the gods and Julius Caesar (Divi filius).
• Suetonius: Provides the human side of the Emperor, balancing his public success with personal failures.