I just got back from Sicily, and I have a lot of blogging to catch up on. So, let me begin with Tuesday, two weeks ago, March 1. The theme of the week, for our lectures and readings, was Augustus and the transformation from Republic to Principate.
This statue (The "Prima Porta Augustus") is of Rome's first emperor, Augustus Caesar. Born Octavius, he changed his name to Octavianus when he was adopted by Julius Caesar (assassinated in 44 BC) in his will. Finally, after bringing an end to the civil wars, Octavianus consolidated his power and took on the title "Augustus" (the august/venerable one). Augustus' building program supported his "propagandistic" aims. We had the chance to visit Caesar's and Augustus' fora.
We had special permission to enter areas of the Imperial Fora that most tourists only dream of entering.
For some reason this relief was covered by pigeons.
It was a rainy day, and my umbrella was in a sorry state. Fortunately, later on, I figured out how to fix it. Taking notes while holding an umbrella is difficult.
Here, Adam gives a lecture on the Temple of Mars Ultor (Mars the avenger) built in the 1st century BC, a massive structure central to Augustus' forum. Augustus' building program was quite extensive, and we got to see a number of structures associated with Rome's first emperor, including the Temple of Bellona, the Temple of Apollo Veiovis, the Theater of Marcellus, and the Porticus Octaviae. Many of these projects were in fact tied to Augustus' dynastic aims. Augustus did not have any male offspring, so he ended up going through a number of possible heirs (Marcellus, Drusus, Lucius, Gaius) before finally settling upon Tiberius. If you would like any insight into the complex social relations of the Julio-Claudian family, you can follow this
link. The family's marriages, divorces, adoptions, remarriages, and murders could surely be the topic of a soap opera, or, at the very least, a good book.
Here are some busts of members of the Julio-Claudian family. Notice the characteristic wide forehead and triangular face, traits brought on partly by extensive intermarrying.
When Augustus died, he had the Senate read aloud three documents publicly. The first two were his financial records and personal will, but the last, and most significant, was a document entitled the
Res Gestae Divi Augusti (The Deeds Accomplished by the Deified Augustus). This was put up in various public places in cities throughout the empire. The inscription glowingly reports Augustus' works and deeds, at home and abroad.
A copy of the document was displayed outside of Augustus' Mausoleum (visible on the far left). Augustus' choice of this site for his burial underscored his desire to be seen as a true Roman, in opposition to the Hellenized Mark Antony. In the center of the model, you can see the original site of the
Ara Pacis (altar of peace). You can see a reconstructed version in the picture below.
The
Horologium Augusti was basically a giant sundial built made from an obelisk. This particular building project emphasized the extent of Augustus' authority. He commanded not just nations but time itself! Of course, this was far from true, and, in 14 AD, Augustus himself died, and, within 55 years, the Julio-Claudian dynasty was no more.
We had special permission to enter areas of the Imperial Fora that most tourists only dream of entering. 
For some reason this relief was covered by pigeons. 
It was a rainy day, and my umbrella was in a sorry state. Fortunately, later on, I figured out how to fix it. Taking notes while holding an umbrella is difficult. 
Here, Adam gives a lecture on the Temple of Mars Ultor (Mars the avenger) built in the 1st century BC, a massive structure central to Augustus' forum. Augustus' building program was quite extensive, and we got to see a number of structures associated with Rome's first emperor, including the Temple of Bellona, the Temple of Apollo Veiovis, the Theater of Marcellus, and the Porticus Octaviae. Many of these projects were in fact tied to Augustus' dynastic aims. Augustus did not have any male offspring, so he ended up going through a number of possible heirs (Marcellus, Drusus, Lucius, Gaius) before finally settling upon Tiberius. If you would like any insight into the complex social relations of the Julio-Claudian family, you can follow this link. The family's marriages, divorces, adoptions, remarriages, and murders could surely be the topic of a soap opera, or, at the very least, a good book.
Here are some busts of members of the Julio-Claudian family. Notice the characteristic wide forehead and triangular face, traits brought on partly by extensive intermarrying. 
When Augustus died, he had the Senate read aloud three documents publicly. The first two were his financial records and personal will, but the last, and most significant, was a document entitled the Res Gestae Divi Augusti (The Deeds Accomplished by the Deified Augustus). This was put up in various public places in cities throughout the empire. The inscription glowingly reports Augustus' works and deeds, at home and abroad. 
A copy of the document was displayed outside of Augustus' Mausoleum (visible on the far left). Augustus' choice of this site for his burial underscored his desire to be seen as a true Roman, in opposition to the Hellenized Mark Antony. In the center of the model, you can see the original site of the Ara Pacis (altar of peace). You can see a reconstructed version in the picture below. 
i want to know more about the nature of your umbrella malfunction.
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