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I <3 Rome
The process by which, in the middle age of the [[Roman Republic]], Greek influences began to be felt to a greater degree in the Roman world. Romans viewed Greek culture with a large degree of skepticism, regarding Greek culture as opulent and perverse in opposition to the simple, utilitarian Roman ideal. One particular voice on this perspective was [[Cato the Elder]], a consul, censor, and dictator, who sought to stamp out [[Hellenism]] through a campaign of [[moral legislation]].
Despite the campaigns of Cato and other Romans, [[Hellenism]] became an increasing force in Roman life, and arguments against it became an increasing theme of political life. [[Augustus Caesar]], as the young [[Octavian]], staged his rise to fame in large degree on the dichotomy between himself - portraying himself as an "originalist" Roman - and the "debaucherous" [[Antony| Marcus Antonius]]. As much as the young [[Octavian]] pressed this theme, though, he himself was a great force for Hellenization in Rome upon his ascension as [[Augustus Caesar]] following the [[Constitutional Settlement]] of 27 B.C. As ''[[princeps]]'', Augustus re-did much of Rome's architecture in the majestic Greek style, remarking upon his death, "Behold, for I found Rome of clay, and I leave her of marble."
== References ==
<references/>
[[Plutarch]], ''Parallel Lives'', "Life of Cato."
[[Plutarch]], ''Parallel Lives'', "Life of Marc Antony."
[[Suetonius]], ''De Vitae Caesarium'', "Life of the Deified Augustus Caesar."
Despite the campaigns of Cato and other Romans, [[Hellenism]] became an increasing force in Roman life, and arguments against it became an increasing theme of political life. [[Augustus Caesar]], as the young [[Octavian]], staged his rise to fame in large degree on the dichotomy between himself - portraying himself as an "originalist" Roman - and the "debaucherous" [[Antony| Marcus Antonius]]. As much as the young [[Octavian]] pressed this theme, though, he himself was a great force for Hellenization in Rome upon his ascension as [[Augustus Caesar]] following the [[Constitutional Settlement]] of 27 B.C. As ''[[princeps]]'', Augustus re-did much of Rome's architecture in the majestic Greek style, remarking upon his death, "Behold, for I found Rome of clay, and I leave her of marble."
== References ==
<references/>
[[Plutarch]], ''Parallel Lives'', "Life of Cato."
[[Plutarch]], ''Parallel Lives'', "Life of Marc Antony."
[[Suetonius]], ''De Vitae Caesarium'', "Life of the Deified Augustus Caesar."