Roman poetry in Augustus age - Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus and Publius Vergilius Maro

in #poetry7 years ago (edited)

The Augustus Age includes one of the remarkable periods in the history of Latin literature, spreading between 43 BC. and 18. Together with the preceding Cicero period it formed the Golden Age in Latin literature. Marked by civil peace and economic prosperity, this century allows for excellence in poetry, processed and sophisticated verses devoted to the benefactor and patron of Augustus, developing the themes of patriotism, love and nature. Only in the decade from 29 to 19 BC "The Georgians" appeared and the "Aneida" was completed; there are also the Horizons' Owls, books I-III, and His Messages, Book I; "Elegies" (books I-III) by Sextus Aurelius Propertius, a member of the group of young promising poets, patronized by Gaius Maecenas; books I-II come with "Elegy" to Tibul, who works under the patronage of Messala. During the same 10 years, Livius began the monumental history of Rome, and another historian, Polion, wrote another important but lost story of the near events. The author of "Metamorphoses", the mythological history of the world from its creation to the Augustus century, Ovid is the last great writer of the Golden Age. His death in exile in 17 years AD marks its end. The classic "Golden Age" is called the classic periods of bloom in other European literatures: the 17th century in France, the 18th century in England (in particular, the English Golden Age coincides with the reign of Queen Anne (1702-14) when authors such as Alexander Pope, Joseph Addison, Richard Richard Steele, John Gay and Matthew Pear. Some include John Drayden and Samuel Johnson.

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Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, The Twelve Caesars, NC, 1981

His strategy of statesman: ... In order for more people to take part in the rule of the state, they invented new positions: oversight of the state buildings, over the roads, over the water pipes, over the Tiber bed, over the distribution of food to the people; a city prefecture, a college of three people to elect senators and another such college to review the riding ward in case of need. He resumed the choice of censors, interrupted for a long time; increased the number of precursors; he even insisted on having two colleagues instead of one at each of his consulates, but he did not succeed: all loudly argued that his supreme power was diminishing enough by acting not alone but with a colleague... Patron of the literary creators:... With poetry he was really well acquainted, admired by the old comedy and often presented it to public spectacles. When he read in two languages (Latin and Ancient Greek), he searched mostly instructions and examples useful in both public and private life, and very often he sent them verbally to his relatives, to military commanders, provincial governors or officials in Rome when they needed advice ... The gifts of their time patronized in every way. On reading, he listened favorably and carefully not only to poems and historical writings, but also to speeches and dialogues. If the works in his honor were not the most serious of the best authors, he insulted and ordered the pretors not to allow his name to be reduced by frequent repetition in literary competitions... Under the patronage of Octavian Augustus, three intellectual circles were formed: around his friend Mecenat, around Mesala, a soldier and an orator, and around Azini Polion, an orator and historian.

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Publius Vergilius Maro

He is the author of Eclogae, (Bucolica / 39.), on his poem "Aeneid" Publius Vergilius Maroworked during the period (29-19 BC), which was issued by Augustus' personal injunction, as the author considered in the form of the "Odyssey" and "The Iliad", it recreated the wanderings of Enei, who had saved a few friends from the burnt Troy and had conquered a new land for the surviving Trojans in the center of the Latium area.

The poem "Aeneid" consists of 12 songs. It was announced after the death of Vergilius on Augustus's order, as the poet, before he died, confessed that he considered the work to be incomplete and unprepared for disclosure. The Emperor judges it as a national epic praising the greatness of Ancient Rome. According to the Homer / Iliad and Odyssey / Vergillius, he traces the wanderings of the Enei, rescued by several friends from the fire in Troy, and set out to conquer Latium for the surviving Trojans. The plot: In the song I Aeneas and his companions reach the coast of North Africa, after six years of wandering around the Mediterranean, in which Juno them exposure to thousands of trials. Accepted as a guest by the queen of Carthage Didon, Enei tells her the end of Troy (songs II and III) and falls in love with her; but Jupiter separates them; the Trojan hero leaves Carthage, abandons Didonna, who is so desperate to commit suicide (song IV). After a short stay in Sicily, where he commemorates his dead father, Anheus, with his compassionate libations (song V), Enei arrives at the shores of Italy, guided by the Qumey Sybil, descending to the Lower World where Anchiz reveals to him the glorious future the gods give Rome (song VI). Arrived to Latium, Enei marries the daughter of local Lavinia (song VII). His quick marriage provoked the wrath of the leader of the neighboring tribe: (roulette / turn). Then Enei is allied with Evander, the leader of the tribe that occupies the territory on which Rome will emerge (song VIII). The Trojan fleet was destroyed by Turnh's army and impeded the rapid triumph of Enei (song IX). But fate smiles at Enei again in the X and XI songs, featuring the two miraculous heroes Palant, Evander's son, and Camilla, the queen's warrior. With song XII, the epic ends: there is a fierce duel between the tournament and Enei, which dominates the Trojan hero.

Second option:

In the first song, Enei and his companions reached the coast of North Africa after six years of wanderings in the Mediterranean, pursued by the wrath of Juno, who subjected them to thousands of trials. As a guest of the quagotenic queen, Didon Enei tells the end of the Troy (the second and third songs) and falls in love with her, but Jupiter divides them. A sleepy hero left Carthage, abandoning Didon so desperately that she committed suicide (IV song). After a short stay in Sicily, where Enei honors his dead father Anheus / V song / Enei arrives in Italy and leads by the Kum's Prophet, he goes down into the realm of the dead where the spirit of anchosis reveals to him the glorious future the gods have predetermined for Rome / VI song /. In the area of Latium, Enei married the daughter of local Lavinia (VII song), but his marriage provoked the wrath of neighboring ruler Turnh, ruler of the tribe. Enai then has to unite with Evander, whose domains are spread over the lands where Rome (VIIIth song) will be founded. Turin's army breaks the Trojan fleet (IX song). But later / X and XI song / fate assists Enei to accomplish the mission of the gods. He is helped by two unbeatable heroes - the son of Evandar Palant and the queen Camilla. The poem ended with the duel between Turnen and Enei, who, with victory, sanctifies his case - the creation of a new country for the Trojans (XIII song).

"Aeneid" glorify the greatness of Rome, which she presented as given by the Olympian gods. It is a story about the triumphs of the Trojans and their eminent ruler. They are, of course, guided by the gods, but much more discreet than in Homer's poems. In this poem, heroes now have the right to choose, to love, to take trips, to enter into battles, although the implementation of the bet is not in their individual capabilities but is feasible only through the combined efforts of a brave and dedicated tribal team. Human interests and weaknesses are inseparable from the higher goals that are related to the tribe's fate. So everywhere on the continents through which she passes she chooses a worthy woman - in Troy, his beloved is Creuse, in Carthage he falls in love with Didon, in Latium marries Lavinia - who loves and respects but who must leave to follow the destiny yours. In "Aeneid", the system of values of universal significance is brought to the fore.

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Yes! thanks for sharing this

You are welcome :)

Interesting read. Thanks.

you are welcome :)

Too long!

Okey, here is short: "Augustus age is awesome!" :D

Great post! Thanks

You are welcome :)

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I think we feel superior to the past because our technological and scientific knowledge is greater than those of a few thousand or even a few hundred years ago. But that belief is a flawed. Regarding how we deal with each other, how we can use our greater knowledge to help the human race as a whole, we haven't progressed a bit from these times.

In fact, in may ways, we've regressed...