Domitian's Rome and the Augustan Legacy

The legacy of the Roman emperor Augustus and his culture of his age was profound and immediately evident after his death in 14 CE. His first four successors based their claims to rule on kinship with him, establishing the Julio-Claudian dynasty (14–68 CE). His building and restoration programs gave the city an "Augustan" appearance that remained relatively unchanged throughout subsequent reigns. After the reigns of Augustus' own descendants, we witness the most spirited and thoroughgoing engagement with the Augustan past during the reign of the emperor Domitian (81–96 CE). This volume represents the first book-length treatment of the reception of Augustus and his age during the reign of Domitian, offering readers a glimpse into the fascinating history and culture of Domitians Rome and its multifaceted engagement with the Augustan past. Domitian emerges as a studious, thoughtful cultivator of the Augustan past who helped shape an age that not only took inspiration from that past but managed to rival it.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2021
Publisher: The University of Michigan Press

The impact of the Roman emperor Augustus and the culture of his era was profound and immediately evident following his demise in 14 CE. His initial four successors established the Julio-Claudian dynasty (14-68 CE) and employed an evolving version of the Principate, the political arrangement Augustus created for himself. Through his building and restoration initiatives, the city acquired an "Augustan" appearance that remained largely unaltered throughout subsequent reigns. Among the literary giants of his age, figures such as Horace and Ovid left an indelible mark on the poetic practices of future generations, while Virgil further ingrained himself into the Roman psyche. However, it was during the reigns of Augustus' own descendants that we witnessed the most spirited and comprehensive engagement with the Augustan past. During the reign of the emperor Domitian, the third and final ruler of the subsequent Flavian dynasty (81-96 CE), a veritable Augustan renaissance occurred.

This volume represents the first book-length treatment of the reception of Augustus and his age during the reign of Domitian. Comprising thirteen chapters authored by an international group of scholars, it provides readers with a glimpse into the fascinating history and culture of Domitian's Rome and its multifaceted engagement with the Augustan past. By combining material and literary cultural approaches and covering a diverse range of topics, including art, architecture, literature, history, and law, the studies in this volume capture the rich complexity of the Augustan legacy in Domitian's Rome while also revising our understanding of Domitian's own legacy. Contrary to the portrayal of him as a cruel tyrant in historical accounts, Domitian emerges as a studious and thoughtful cultivator of the Augustan ideals.

Weight: 694g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780472132676