Questions
– Week 9 Readings
1)
Following Caesar’s death which
politician tried to turn the Senate and Caesarians away from Antony?
2)
How did “the boy” Octavian confront the Senate (197) in a manner like his
father, Caesar?
3)
List two distinguishing facets of the ‘Second Triumvirate’ (198)
4)
Which triumvir was notorious for the savagery of his proscriptions (198)?
5)
What group did the proscriptions especially target & why (198)?
6)
What religious and political steps did the triumvirs take to “sanctify their
cause” and solidify support (198)?
7)
Which of the triumvirs was the true victor of Philippi (198)?
8)
This “noblest Roman of them all” is criticized as a hypocrite for doing things
like those which he had accused Caesar of (198)?
9)
Why did Antony and Octavian reduce the role of Lepidus in the triumvirate(198)?
10)
What aggressive action of Antony in Italy caused riots and a rebellion by
Antony’s brother and wife(198)?
11)
Upon what two men did Octavian rely in order to compensate for his lack of
military and political ability (200)?
12)
What is the significance of the “Peace of Brundisium” in the relations between
Antony and Octavian (200)?
13)
What crisis arose in Italy in which Octavian had to be rescued by Antony (200)?
14)
What motivated Octavian’s 2 marriages to Scribonia and Livia (200)?
15)
What was Antony’s initial reason for wanting to interview Cleopatra (200)?
16)
What large wedding gift did Antony give to Cleopatra? (200)?
17)
How did the desperate Octavian settle the naval problem with Sextus Pompeius
(201)?
18)
What was unusual about Octavian’s assuming the title “Imperator”?
19)
How did Octavian make himself popular in Rome in the mid 30’s?
20)
What became of Lepidus’ position in the triumvirate?
21)
Which of the two remaining triumvirs offered to lay down power but was ignored
by the other?
22)
What drastic steps did Octavian make in 32 (following the expiration of the
triumvirate) to isolate Antony and his supporters?
23)
What was strange about the oath which Octavian’s soldiers took prior to Actium
(202)?
24)
What did Octavian do with defeated Egypt?
25)
How did Antony act differently from Caesar with respect to the nobles
(“oligarchs”)?
26)
What were some of the important measures (3-4) Octavian enacted to secure
power?
27)
What was Octavian’s actual title (latin phrase)?
28)
What “theatrical” constitutional move did Octavian make in 27 b.c.?
29)
What rewards did Octavian receive from the senate for this move?
30)
Why did the senate go along with this new arrangement (203)?
31)
What unsettling event caused Octavian(Augustus) to give up the consulship in
23?
32)
What 2 special powers did Augustus receive from the Senate for his laying down
the consulship?
33)
What office did Augustus refuse from the people (in 22 during a grain crisis)
and why?
34)
A’s religious measures (204)?
35)
How did the people (in Rome and the provinces) react to Augustus’ religiosity?
36)
What was the substance of A’s morality laws which proved rather unsuccessful?
37)
What was A’s view of slaves and manumission (= freeing of slaves)?
38)
What were A’s foreign policy aspirations? What disaster marred these?
39)
In what ways did A. surpass Caesar, who was his superior in many respects
(206)?
40)
From what group did most of the Roman elite derive under A’s regime?
41)
In contrast to the Republic, what would be the primary criterion for
advancement under A.?
Cicero
Philippics (43 b.c.)
1)
To which other infamous Roman villains does Cicero liken Antony (beginning)?
2)
Cite a couple of the charges which Cicero claims that Antony flung at him?
(12,18,21,25,32)
3)
What things does Cicero say about Antony’s personal life and passions (44-48;
64-68)?
1)
What of interest does Pl. have to say about Antony’s younger life &
upbringing?
2)
What stories does he use to illustrate A’s relationship with Caesar?
3) “ “ “ “ “
Octavius & the Triumvirate?
Virgil
– Eclogue #4 (written ca. 40 b.c. – during 2nd triumvirate)
1)
What elements identify this piece as specifically ‘poetic’?
2)
What interesting natural images are employed?
3)
What future personage/event will bring hope to Rome?
Res Gestae (= “Achievements”) of Divine Augustus (ca. 12 a.d.)
1)
How would you describe the tone of this document?
2)
Who is the narrator of this document?
3)
Are there any statements which strike you as impressive? interesting?
misleading?
Tacitus
Annales (ch. 1) (ca. 90’s a.d.)
1)
How does this historian Tacitus view the reign of Augustus?
Suetonius:
Life of Augustus (ca. 110’s a.d.)
1)
What aspects of A’s life is Suetonius most interested in here?
Virgil’s
Aeneid (ca. 20’s b.c.)
1)
Who are the two characters who meet in the underworld?
2)
What subject in general are they discussing?
3)
Are there any vivid images or memorable characters that they discuss?
4)
Is Augustus mentioned anywhere and, if so, how?
Ovid
Metamorphoses (ca. 2 b.c.)
1)
How does the poet depict Caesar? Augustus? himself?
Horace
Odes (ca. 30-23 b.c.)
1)
To whom is the poem addressed and how is the addressee depicted?
2)
Who is the main dramatic character in the poem & what story (speech) does
he tell?
3) How does this story relate to events in Horace’s (i.e. Augustus’ time)?