Changes

Some cite this as the fall of the Roman Republic – when the Senate officially conferred ultimate power (although not in name) on the new Augustus.  Reality is much more complicated.  It cannot be doubted that Augustus moved the Republic towards a unitary power structure, but there is no proof that he did not intend to restore democracy eventually.  He often remarked, “festina lente,” or, “make haste, slowly,” suggesting that a return to democracy would come, just not yet.  He never held formal imperial power, towards that end, and continually rubber-stamped his actions with the seal of democracy.  In sum, the formal tenets of Augustus’ rule show a challenging tightrope-walk between the need to hold authoritative power, to reconstruct his ravaged city, and his urge to both appear and be democratic.  This tightrope walk officially only ended with the reign of [[Tiberius]], but not during the Augustan age.

Some cite this as the fall of the Roman Republic – when the Senate officially conferred ultimate power (although not in name) on the new Augustus.  Reality is much more complicated.  It cannot be doubted that Augustus moved the Republic towards a unitary power structure, but there is no proof that he did not intend to restore democracy eventually.  He often remarked, “festina lente,” or, “make haste, slowly,” suggesting that a return to democracy would come, just not yet.  He never held formal imperial power, towards that end, and continually rubber-stamped his actions with the seal of democracy.  In sum, the formal tenets of Augustus’ rule show a challenging tightrope-walk between the need to hold authoritative power, to reconstruct his ravaged city, and his urge to both appear and be democratic.  This tightrope walk officially only ended with the reign of [[Tiberius]], but not during the Augustan age.

==The Augustan Image Programme==

==The Augustan Image Program==

A denial of official power became a central theme of the new Augustan image programme.  It is said that he was offered the position of [[Dictator]] several times during his life, which he earnestly declined, at one point falling to his knees, tearing his toga, and begging the citizens not to ask him, for he was too weak to hold such an esteemed and powerful office.  He is said to have exclaimed, “while I have exceeded all in ‘’auctoritas’’ (informal power based on character), I have exceeded none in ‘’potestas’’ (formal power based on political office).”

A denial of official power became a central theme of the new Augustan image program.  It is said that he was offered the position of [[Dictator]] several times during his life, which he earnestly declined, at one point falling to his knees, tearing his toga, and begging the citizens not to ask him, for he was too weak to hold such an esteemed and powerful office.  He is said to have exclaimed, “while I have exceeded all in ‘’auctoritas’’ (informal power based on character), I have exceeded none in ‘’potestas’’ (formal power based on political office).”

He also resisted his own deification, which the Senate “pressed” on him during his life as well.  He did not want to be seen as a new, self-obsessed tyrant, and towards that end, he even melted all gold statues of himself, re-dedicating the gold to the god Apollo, with whom Augustus nonetheless fostered a subconscious association in his subjects.

He also resisted his own deification, which the Senate “pressed” on him during his life as well.  He did not want to be seen as a new, self-obsessed tyrant, and towards that end, he even melted all gold statues of himself, re-dedicating the gold to the god Apollo, with whom Augustus nonetheless fostered a subconscious association in his subjects.