Augustan Culture: An Interpretive IntroductionGrand political accomplishment and artistic productivity were the hallmarks of Augustus Caesar's reign (31 B.C. to A.D. 14), which has served as a powerful model of achievement for societies throughout Western history. Although much research has been done on individual facets of Augustan culture, Karl Galinsky's book is the first in decades to present a unified overview, one that brings together political and social history, art, literature, architecture, and religion. Weaving analysis and narrative throughout a richly illustrated text, Galinsky provides not only an enjoyable account of the major ideas of the age, but also an interpretation of the creative tensions and contradictions that made for its vitality and influence. Galinsky draws on source material ranging from coins and inscriptions to the major works of poetry and art, and challenges the schematic concepts and dichotomies that have commonly been applied to Augustan culture. He demonstrates that this culture was neither monolithic nor the mere result of one man's will. Instead it was a nuanced process of evolution and experimentation. Augustan culture had many contributors, as Galinsky demonstrates, and their dynamic interactions resulted in a high point of creativity and complexity that explains the transcendence of the Augustan age. Far from being static, its sophisticated literary and artistic monuments call for the active response and involvement of the reader and viewer even today. |
From inside the book
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... values , guiding ideas , and a sense of direction . We see daily that transformation is not sudden , but often pro- ceeds imperceptibly . Hence the attention in this book to such matters and to the complexity , nuance , and ...
... values and of " traditional concepts and principles that did not always keep pace with political reality . " 10 The failure of the republic was perceived at the time as the failure to adhere to a traditional value system that placed the ...
... values and principles . This is a central character- istic of Augustan culture , and it needs to be given due attention . At the same time , the preservation of the republican structure also meant the preservation of its inherent ...
... values . These found their expression across the wide spectrum of government , social pol- icy , art , literature , and religion . At their core was the revitalization of the mores of the res publica ; a program of moral legislation ...
... values : revolution equals restoration.20 Similarly , in his last chapter of The Roman Revolution , Syme " provides us with most of the elements needed to balance his [ earlier ] judgment . " 21 Succinctly , he captured much of the ...
Contents
III | 10 |
IV | 20 |
V | 24 |
VI | 28 |
VII | 42 |
VIII | 43 |
IX | 49 |
X | 54 |
XXIX | 226 |
XXX | 229 |
XXXI | 234 |
XXXII | 237 |
XXXIII | 244 |
XXXIV | 246 |
XXXV | 253 |
XXXVI | 261 |