Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid
-
Upload
sydney-jennings -
Category
Documents
-
view
228 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid
![Page 1: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid
Professor Ameeth Vijay
![Page 2: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
The Aeneid as National Epic• I sing of arms and of a man• The first to come from the shores• of Troy, exiled by fate, to Italy• And the Lavinian coast; a man battered• On land and sea by the powers above• In the face of Juno's relentless wrath;• A man who also suffered greatly in war• Until he could found his city and bring his gods • Into Latium, from which arose• The Latin people, our Alban forefathers,• And the high walls of everlasting Rome
• Book I.1-12
![Page 3: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
• National Epic: – the founding story of a nation or people;– an epic that seeks to capture the qualities,
attributes and values of a given people
![Page 4: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
• Pietas:– duty, devotion and loyalty to one's country,
family, or religion
![Page 5: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Ancient Rome
441 BCE: Sophocles – Antigone380 BCE: Plato – Republic149 BCE: Rome conquers Greece45 BCE: Julius Caesar – Dictator of Rome39 BCE: Julius Caesar Assassinated29-19 BCE: Virgil - The Aeneid27 BCE: End of Roman Republic
![Page 6: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Roman Government
• Consuls– Elected excutive branch– Two consuls serve at any time– One-year terms– Control over military– Each consul can veto the other's actions
![Page 7: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
• Senate: – Oversaw and approved administration– Run by wealthy citizens– initally, the patricians– Can appoint temporary dictator in times of
national emergency
![Page 8: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
• Popular Assemblies– Passed legislation– Governed communities– Open to all citizens– initially, the plebeians
![Page 9: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Roman Expansion
![Page 10: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
I set no limitsIn time or space, and have given to themEternal empire, world without end… And there will come a timeAs the years glide on, when the descendants of Trojan Assaracus shall subdueGlorious Mycenae, Phthia, and Argos.
Book I. 332-342
![Page 11: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
"Sulla now busied himself with slaughter, and murders without number or limit filled the city…proscriptions were made not only in Rome, but also in every city of Italy, and neither temple of God, nor hearth of hospitality, nor paternal home was free from the stain of bloodshed, but husbands were butchered in the embraces of their wedded wives, and sons in the arms of their mothers. Those who fell victims to political resentment and private hatred were as nothing compared with those who were butchered for the sake of their property"
Plutarch
![Page 12: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Riots will often break out in a crowded assemblyWhen the rabble are roused. Torches and stonesAre soon flying — Fury always finds weapons —But then all eyes light upon a loyal citizenA man of respect. The crowd stands stillIn hushed expectation. And with grave wordsHe masters their tempers and clams their hearts.
Aeneid, Book I.176-184
![Page 13: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Octavian/Augustus Caesar
"He seduced the army with bonuses, and his cheap food policy was successful bait for civilians. Indeed he attracted everybody's goodwill by the enjoyable gift of peace. Then he gradually pushed ahead and absorbed the functions of the senate, the officials, and even the law. Opposition did not exist. War or judicial murder had disposed of all men of spirit. Upper-class survivors found that slavish obediance was the way to succeed, both politically and financially."
- Tacitus
![Page 14: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Myth Power
Power Myth
![Page 15: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
My son, Rome will extend her renowned empireto Earth's horizons, her glory to the starsShe will enclose seven hills within the wallOf one city, blessed with a brood of heroes
Book VI.925-928
![Page 16: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Here is the Roman who will uproot ArgosAnd Agamemnon's Mycenae, and even the blood Of Aeacus, mighty Achilles' grandsireAvenging Troy and Minerva's temple.
VI.999-1003
![Page 17: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Now turn your gaze here and let it rest uponYour family of Romans. Here is CaesarAnd here are all of the descendants of IülusDestined to come under heaven's great dome.And here is the man promised to youAugustus Caesar, born of the godsWho will establish again a Golden AgeIn the fields of Latium once ruled by SaturnAnd will expand his dominionBeyond the Indus and the GaramantesBeyond our familiar stars, beyond the yearly Path of the sun, to the land where AtlasTurns the star-studded sphere on his shoulders
VI.935-947
![Page 18: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
imperium sine fine:"soverignty without end" "endless empire"
![Page 19: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Others will, no doubt, hammer out bronzeThat breathes more softly, and draw living facesOut of stone. They will plead cases betterAnd chart the rising of every star in the sky.Your mission, Roman, is to rule the world.These will be your arts, to establish peace,To spare the humbled, and to conquer the proud
VI.1012-1018
![Page 20: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Mythologization of Augustus
Titles of Augustus:Augustus: revered, sacredPrinceps: first among equalsDivi Filius: son of the divinePontifex Maximus: High Priest
![Page 21: Myth and Politics in Virgil's Aeneid](https://reader036.fdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022081507/5a4d1b2a7f8b9ab059998c5d/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
"From this resplendent line shall be bornTrojan Caesar, who will extend his Empireto the Ocean and his glory to the stars,A Julian in the lineage of great Ilus.And you, Venus, free at last from care,Will someday welcome him into heaven,Laden with Oriental spoils of war,And his name too will be invoked in vows.Then war shall be no more, and the ages Will grow mild."
Aeneid, Book I.343-351