Celestial Inclinations: A Life of Augustus

Celestial Inclinations offers a fresh perspective on the life and career of the first Roman emperor Augustus (63 B.C.-A.D. 14). It argues that he used his knowledge of the celestial sphere to confirm his actions and convey his greatness to others. The book combines ancient sources with astronomical sky maps and astrological diagrams to interpret critical events in his life, such as the identification of a celestial object, the Battle of Actium, and building projects in Rome.

Format: Hardback
Length: 552 pages
Publication date: 20 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Celestial Inclinations offers a fresh perspective on the life and career of the first Roman emperor Augustus (63 B.C.-A.D. 14). It argues that Augustus used his knowledge of the celestial sphere to confirm for himself and convey to others that the heavens supported his activities on earth and his inevitable greatness. The book is based on a comprehensive assessment of ancient historical, literary, astronomical, astrological, and artistic sources for the years prior to and during Augustus' life. Anne-Marie Lewis combines these sources with astronomical sky maps and astrological diagrams to offer fresh interpretations of critical events in Augustus' life, particularly during a time when the celestial sphere played a significant cultural and political role. Some of these events include the identification of the celestial object that appeared at the ludi in honor of Caesar in 44 B.C.; the Battle of Actium; the iconography of the Tellus Relief Panel on the Ara Pacis Augustae; the Ludi Saeculares; Augustus' major building projects in Rome; and his interactions with significant figures of the period such as Cicero, Caesar, Agrippa, and Antonius.

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Weight: 906g
Dimension: 163 x 244 x 43 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197599648