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AS 3.4B
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“I found Rome of clay, I leave it to you of marble.” Throughout the Golden Age of 1st century BCE
Rome, Emperor Augustus favoured the Romans’ strong sense of national identity. From the original
founding of Rome, tradition was highly valued as a means of creating societal continuity from their
ancient past and historical present. The legend of Romulus and Remus remained pivotal to the
Romans’ conveyance of national pride. Further, the ensuing curse and civil war that was devastating
Rome as a consequence of Romulus and Remus’s bloody battle found solace and cessation during
the Augustan Golden Age. The Romans were a proud people and it is clear through their insatiable
obsession with their background and its links to the gods that such a tradition was unequivocally
important to all of their society. The Golden Age of Augustus provides a modern audience with
unambiguous examples of the Roman’s national identity and patriotism in 1st century BCE Rome.
The legendary founding of Rome in 753 BCE has a stronghold on the national pride of the Romans.
As the myth goes, twin brothers Romulus and Remus- having been suckled by wolves and raised by a
shepherd after being thrown from their kingdom as babies-fought to the death on the Palatine hill
regarding who would give their name to the new city. This is significant as it is commonly
understood that Romulus and Remus are of divine ancestry: their mother Rhea Silvia although a
Vestal Virgin was impregnated by either the god Mars or the demigod Hercules and it is accepted
that they are descendants of Aeneas’s, the original founder of the Western Land in Italy. Having the
founders of their city so strongly connected to divine roots play a vital roole in the perpetuation of
the Romans’ passion for religion. (1) Further than this, as mother of Aeneas as told by Virgil in The
Aeneid, Venus is commonly associated as the mother of the Roman people. Religion is a powerful
tool as a means of control and it is apparent that even as early as 1st century BCE it was being utilised
as a way to organize the Roman society- and the Romans not only endured the important role of the
gods in their daily life but revered it. How is it that a single man, Augustus, came to lead the entire
Roman Empire?(4) The opening lines of Horace’s Odes IV.5 read in favour of Augustus’s divine
ancestors, saying (1)“divis orte bonis, optume Romulae custos gentis...” which in English holds the
meaning “Son of the blessed gods, and greatest defender of Romulus’ people...” (3)This is an
example of the Romans’ sense of national identity in relation to Augustus’s skill as a leader as well as
their legendary founding.
Arguably the most celebrated effect of Augustus’s reign in 1st century Rome was his leadership that
led the Romans from a seemingly endless period of civil war to an era of peace. This is apparent to a
modern audience through such monuments as the Ara Pacis in Rome. (2) It is a fine example of not
only Roman loyalty but also Augustan propaganda. The Ara Pacis was built to commemorate the
winning of two battles at Gaul and Hispania under the command of Augustus. Before Emperor
Augustus came to power, civil war was rife in the Roman state. In Horace’s Odes 1.2 the final stanza
reads “hic magnos potius triumphus, hic ames dici pater atque princeps, neu sinas Medos equitare
inultos t educe, Caesar”; which can be translated as “Here to delight in triumphs, in being called our
prince and father, making sure the Medes are punished, lead us, O Caesar.” This quote from a
contemporary author of 1st century BCE Rome highlights societal views regarding their appreciation
of Augustus’s leadership and his ability to triumph. Patriotism was an important part of Roman
society and patriotism in the Roman Empire was fundamentally linked to propaganda. The Ara Pacis,
translated as the Altar of Peace was originally named Ara Pacis Augustae which means the Altar of
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Augustan Peace. Such propagandistic materials as this were useful to Augustus as a means to leading
an empire that was basically ruling the Western world.
Literary evidence of Augustus’s affect on the nationalistic values of the Romans are commonly found
in epic poet Virgil’s The Aeneid. Virgil frequently makes reference to the strength of Augustus’s
leadership with such quotes as “aspera tum positis mitescent seacula bellis” meaning “then with
wars abandoned, the harsh will grow mild” (Virigil Aeneid 1). As was well established throughout my
essay, Rome maintained a strong sense of national identity and patriotism throughout the 1st
century BCE. Augustus not only nurtured by utilised this favour held by the Roman citizens to bring
the Roman Empire into power throughout the known Western lands. (3) Augustus won important
battles, brought peace to a land known for its skill at warfare and led the society whilst stressing the
importance of religion. Thus, the Roman Empire survived under the rule of Augustus with a sense of
great national pride, identity and patriotism.