The divinization of Caesar and Augustus: precedents, consequences, implications

356 Pages·2013·71.675 MB·English

by  Koortbojian, Michael

T HE D I V I N I Z A T I ON OF
C A E S AR A ND A U G U S T US
Precedents, Consequences, Implications
M I C H A EL K O O R T B O J I AN
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THE DI V I N I Z A T I ON OF
CA E S AR A ND AU G U S T US
Precedents, Consequences,
Implications
Michael Koortbojian
Princeton University
CAMBRIDGE
U N I V E R S I TY PRESS
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© Michael Koortbojian 2013
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception
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permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published 2013
Printed in the United States of America
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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data
Koortbojian, Michael.
The divinization of Caesar and Augustus: precedents, consequences,
implications / Michael Koortbojian, Princeton University
pages cm
Includes bibliographical reference and index.
ISBN 978-0-521-19215-6 (hardback)
1. Emperor worship — Rome. 2. Caesar, Julius — Cult. 3. Caesar,
Julius —Art. 4. Caesar, Julius — Monuments. 5. Augustus, Emperor of Rome
63 B.C.-14 A.D. - Cult. 6. Augustus, Emperor of Rome, 63 B.C.-14 A.D. - Art.
7. Augustus, Emperor of Rome, 63 B.C.—14 A.D. — Monuments. I. Title.
DG124.K66 2013
937\07-dc23 2013015611
ISBN 978-0-521-19215-6 Hardback
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy
of URLs for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication
and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is, or will remain,
accurate or appropriate.
C O N T E N TS
List of Illustrations page xi
Preface xvii
Abbreviations xxi
I MAKING MEN GODS l
Divine Honors for Caesar? 4
Deus and Divus 7
Three Claims 9
Four Assumptions 111
Prospectus 13
II THE QUESTION OF CAESAR'S DIVINITY A ND T HE
PROBLEM OF HIS CULT STATUE 15
The Problem of Cult Statues 17
Making Divus Julius 21
Mors Honoresque Caesaris 24
Sidus Iulium 27
Cicero's Evidence 29
Cicero's Challenge to Antony 31
The Simulacrum of Philippics II 36
The Aedes Divi lulii and Its Statue 39
Two Visions of the Divus 45
vii
CONTENTS
III AUGURAL IMAGES: OLD TRADITIONS, NEW INSTITUTIONS 50
The Augurs and Their Competences 50
The Memory of Attus Navius and the Power of His Priesthood 53
Augurs in the Public Eye 5fe
Imagines Augurales 60
The Lituus and Its Symbolism 63
An Image of the Auspices? 73
IV ROMULUS, QUIRINUS, GENIUS, DIVUS 78
Romulus, Quirinus, and the Statue of Caesar 84
Invictus Ouirinus? 8&
A Change of Costume 91
V CAESAR'S PORTRAIT 94
The Statues and Their Imagery 95
The Portraits 100
Other "Caesars" 106
Typologies and Inconsistencies 110
Some Other Multiply Attested Portraits 112
Historical Circumstances and the Transformation of Types 114
Caesar's Crown I IS
From Republic to Empire 126
VI AUSPICIOUS, PROPITIOUS, VICTORIOUS 123
Worshipping the New Divus 130
Prateros Kaisar 131
The Bringer of Victory 138
Propitius Divus 144
Under the Emperor's Auspices 146
VII REPRESENTATION IN A N BRA O F DIVINIZATION 155
Numen Violatum 156
Public versus Private Cult 158
The Differing Character of Private Honors in the Public Sphere 160
Cult Honors and the Dedication of Sacra Privata 165
Augustan Numen and Numen Augusti 170
The Status and Form of the Shrines 129
The Longevity of Honors 180
vin
C O N T E N TS
The Status of Statues 182
The Monument of the Aenatores 186
VTTT AD URBFM FT FX TIFBF: T HF TMAOFRY OF T HF DTVIJS
AND TTS FATF 191
Piihlir and Private Honors ad Tlrhem 192
Super Ceteros Mortales 192
Nude Statues, in Public and in Private 198
Nudity at Rome, Nudity Outside of Rome 203
The Image of Divus Augustus 211
To Look Like a Divus 212
TX CODA: RFVFRRFKATTONS TN T H F F.AST 222
Notes 237
Works Cited 283
Index of Ancient Authors 313
Index of Inscriptions 321
Index of Coins 325
Index of Works of Art 327
General Index 331
ix
ILLUSTRATIONS
LI. Divus Julius: cult statue (augur). RRC 540/2, rev., 36 B.C., page 10
I. 2. Divus Julius: cult statue (hipmantled). RRC 540/2, rev., 36 B.C., 11
ILL Libertas. RRC 433/1, obv., ca. 54 B.C., 16
II. 2. Capitoline Triad. RRC 296/1, rev., ca. 112-11 B.C, 18
11.3. Enthroned Jupiter statue in Capitoline Temple. RIC EE, 70,
no. 452, rev., A.D. 71, 18
11.4. Terracotta Hercules and Minerva acroterion from the Forum
Boarium. Rome, Antiquarium Comunale. Mid sixth century B.C, 22
11.5. Victory crowns triumphator. RRC 367, rev., ca. 82, 23
11.6. Ferculum with statues in triumphal procession (from Amiternum).
Limestone relief. Chieti, Museo Archeologico Nazionale
dell'Abruzzo. Claudian, 33
11.7. Caesar's sella and corona. RRC 497/2d, rev., 42 B.C, 35
11.8. Apotheosis scene from the Belvedere Altar. Marble. Vatican
Museums. 12—2 B.C, 41
11.9. View of Aedes Divi Iulii in Forum, 43
11.10. Cult statue of Jupiter and Libertas. RRC 391/2, rev., 75 B.C, 45
11.11. Algiers cult statue relief. Marble. Algiers, Musee Nationale
d'Antiquities. Julio-Claudian, 46
11.12. The Julio-Claudian Dynasty. Marble. Ravenna, San Vitale.
Claudian, 46
11.13. Divus Julius crowned by Augustus. RIC I, 77, no. 173 = RIC21,
74, no. 415 = Giard 1976, nos. 555-9, 12 B.C, 47
11.14. Torso of Augustus (?) statue. Marble. Cherchel, Musee
Archeologique. Augustan, 47
11.15. Reconstruction of the Aedes Divi Iulii and its cult statue, 48
111.1. Aeneas sacrificing. Rome, from the Ara Pacis, west side.
Marble. 13-9 B.C, 55
111.2. Augustus with lituus. RIC21, 61, no. 275a = BMCRE, I, 106,
no. 650, obv., ca. 31-28 B.C, 58
111.3. Tiberius with lituus. RPC 83, A.D. 14-37, 58
xi
ILLUSTRATIONS
111.4. Apotheosis of Caesar Claudius Germanicus. Sardonyx. Paris,
Bibliotheque Nationale, Cabinet des Medailles. After A.D. 54, 59
111.5. Minucius Monument. RRC 242/1, rev., 135 B.C., 62
111.6. Numa sacrificing. RRC 334/1, rev., ca. 97 B.C., 62
111.7. Cornificius augur, crowned. RRC 509/2, rev., 42 B.C., 63
111.8. Equestrian Octavian with lituus. RRC 497/1, rev., 42 B.C., 63
111.9. Sulla coin with lituus. RRC 359/1, rev., ca. 84/83 B.C., 65
III. 10. Augural implements and trophy. RRC 460/3, rev., 47-6 B.C., 66
III. 11. Augural implements. RRC 374/2, rev., 81 B.C., 66
111.12. Geniuspopuli Romani. RRC 428/3, obv, 55 B.C, 68
111.13. Jupiter's eagle with thunderbolt, lituus, and jug. RRC 428/3,
rev., 55 B.C, 68
III. 14. Helmeted head of Roma. AR denarius. RRC 285/2, obv,
116/115 B.C, 69
III. 15. Jupiter with thunderbolt in Triumph; lituus above. RRC
285/2, rev, 116/115 B.C., 69
III. 16. Sulla coin with lituus. RRC 359/1, rev, ca. 84/83 B.C, 70
111.17. Venus. RRC 359/1, obv, ca. 84/83 B.C, 70
III. 18. Victory crowns triumphator. RRC 367, rev, ca. 82 B.C, 71
III. 19. Roma. RRC 367, obv, ca. 82 B.C., 71
111.20. Antonius as augur. RRC 533/2, obv, 38 B.C, 73
111.21. Vicus Sandaliarius altar. Marble. Uffizi, Florence, 74
111.22. Augural chickens in cage (detail). Marble. Rome, Palazzo
Albani del Drago. After A.D. 100, 75
IV. 1. Temple Quirinus pediment relief. Marble. Rome, Museo Nazionale
Romano delle Terme. A.D. 81-96, 79
IV.2. Temple Mars Ultor pediment relief. Marble. Rome, Villa Medici.
A.D. 41-54, 80
IV.3. Sorrento Base (Romulus?). Marble. Sorrento, Museo Correale.
Late Augustan, 81
IV.4. "Origins of Rome" painting (Pompeii V,4,13: Naples, Museo
Archeologico). Augustan (?), 83
IV. 5. Temple of Mars (?) pediment relief with Rhea Silvia and
twins. Marble. Rome, Museo Nazionale delle Terme. Trajanic, 83
IV.6. Romulus trophaiophoros from Pompeii (IX,13,5). Fresco
(watercolor copy), 90
IV.7. Genius populi Romani, standing. RRC 329/1, rev, 100 B.C, 92
IV.8. Genius populi Romani, seated. RRC 397, rev., 74 B.C, 92
IV. 9. Genius populi Romani. Boscoreale silver cup (detail). Paris,
Musee du Louvre. 9 B.C, 93
V. 1. Apotheosis of Lucius Verus. Marble. Ephesus Monument.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, A.D. 140/160, 96
V.2. Via Cassia terracotta relief. Rome, Museo Nazionale delle
Terme / Palazzo Massimo. Trumviral (?), 97
V.3. Villa Casali relief. Engraving from Piranesi, Vasi, II, taf. 75, 97
V.4. Octavian coin with globe underfoot. RIC21, 59,
no. 256 = BMCRE I, 100, no. 615, rev, 31-29 B.C., 98
V.5. Temple of Clementia Caesaris. RRC 480/21, obv, 44 B.C, 99
V.6. Tusculum Caesar, frontal. Marble. Turin. Augustan (?), 102
V.7. Caesar. RRC 480/6, obv, 44 B.C., 102
V.8. Caesar, frontal. Marble. Woburn Abbey. Augustan, 102
ILLUSTRATIONS
V.9. Caesar, frontal. Marble. Florence, priv. coll. Augustan, 102
V.10. Caesar, frontal. Marble. Pantelleria. Claudian, 103
V.ll. Caesar, profile. Marble. Pantelleria. Claudian, 103
V.12. Tusculum Caesar, profile. Marble. Turin. Augustan, 103
V.13. Caesar, frontal. Marble. Pisa, Camposanto. Augustan, 104
V.14. Caesar, profile. Marble. Pisa, Camposanto. Augustan, 104
V.15. Chiaramonti Caesar, frontal. Marble. Vatican Museums.
Augustan, 105
V. 16. Chiaramonti Caesar, profile. Marble. Vatican Museums.
Augustan, 105
V.17. Caesar, frontal. Marble. Rome, Staderini collection. Augustan, 106
V.18. Caesar, profile. Marble. Rome, Staderini collection. Augustan, 106
V.19. McClendon Caesar, frontal. Marble. J. Paul Getty
Museum, Malibu. Augustan, 107
V.20. McClendon Caesar, profile. Marble. J. Paul Getty
Museum, Malibu. Augustan, 107
V.21. Aries Caesar. Marble. Aries, Museum. Augustan (?), 108
V.22. "Caesar," frontal. Leiden. Marble. Augustan, 109
V.23. Diagram of Pisa/Chiaramonti variants, 110
V.24. Caesar, profile. Florence, priv. coll. Marble. Augustan, 111
V.25. Caesar, profile. Woburn Abbey. Marble. Augustan, 111
V.26. Crassus. Marble. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.
Julio-Claudian, 113
V.27. Crassus. Marble. Paris, Louvre. Julio-Claudian, 113
V.28. Tivoli "General" (detail), frontal. Marble. Rome,
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Museo Nazionale Romano, 114
V.29. Tivoli "General" portrait head, frontal. Marble. Vatican
Museums, 114
V.30. Palazzo Barberini "General," portrait head, frontal.
Marble. Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano delle Terme, 115
V.31. Apollonia (Tirana) replica of the Palazzo Barberini "General":
head, frontal. Marble. Tirana, Archeological Museum, 115
V.32. Lex Rufrena. Inscribed statue base. Stone. Vatican Museums.
Augustan, 116
V.33. Caesar divifilius. RRC 535/1, obv., ca. 38 B.C, 116
V.34. Divos Iulius. RRC 535/1, rev., ca. 38 B.C., 116
V.35. Augustus portrait. Marble. Pontevedra (Spain). Augustan, 117
V.36. "Caesar" with corona civica, frontal. Marble. Thasos, Museum.
Julio-Claudian, 121
V.37. The comet of Divus Julius. RIC I, 84, no. 253 = RIC21, 44,
no. 37b, rev., ca. 20 B.C. (?), 122
V.38. Divus Julius with star atop crown. RIC I, 73, no. 141 =
RIC21, 66, no. 340, rev., ca. 17 B.C, 122
V.39. Tusculum Caesar, back view. Turin, Museum. Augustan, 124
V.40. Juba II, profile. Marble. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, 124
V.41. Diademed Greek ruler. Bronze. Princeton Art Museum, ca.
275-250 B.c, 124
V. 42. Divus Julius and Caesar divifilius. RPC 517, obv., ca. 36 B.C. (?), 125
VI. 1. Divus Julius with star. RRC 480/5b, obv., ca. 44 B.C., 132
VI.2. Breastplate of the Augustus from Prima Porta. Marble.
Vatican Museums. Augustan, 137
ILLUSTRATIONS
VI.3. Augustus crowned by Divus Julius. RPC 1650. (Augustan)
Claudian reissue, 138
VI.4. Silver Victoriatus. RRC 53/1, rev, ca. 211 B.C, 140
VI.5. Venus proffering the victoriola. RRC 480/3, rev., 44 B.C., 140
VI.6. Victory atop the globe. RIC I, 62, no. 27 = RIC2 no. 254b., ca.
31-29 B.C., 141
VI.7. Octavian proferring the victoriola. RIC21, 60, no. 270, rev., ca.
31-29 B.C, 141
VI.8. Octavian portrait with Jupiter's thunderbolt. RIC21, 60,
no.270, obv, ca. 31-29 B.C., 141
VI.9. Octavian atop rostral column. RIC21, 60, no. 271, rev., ca.
35 B.c, 142
VI. 10. Augustus restores rights and laws. Aureus, ca. 29 B.C, 143
VI.ll. Augustus as world ruler. Silver cup from Boscoreale. Paris,
Musee du Louvre. 9 B.C. (?), 143
VI. 12. Germanicus delivers victory to Tiberius. Tiberius sheath,
detail. Bronze. British Museum. After A.D. 16 (?), 147
VI. 13. Cult statue of DEO AUGUSTO. RPC nos. 221-3, obv. A.D. 22, 150
VI. 14. Gemma Augustea. Sardonyx. Vienna, Kunsthistorisches
Museum. Augustan, 152
VI. 15. Grand Camee de France. Sardonyx. Paris, Bibliotheque
National. Tiberian, 152
VI. 16. Germanicus on parade before enthroned Augustus.
Sardonyx. Florence, Museo Archeologico. Augustan, 153
VII. 1. Seated Augustus statue. Marble. Tivoli, Museo Archeologico.
After 13 B.C (?), 164
VII.2. Tivoli site (plan). After NSc 1925. Drawing, 165
VII.3. Ara Pacis, 13-9 B.C (view), 166
VII.4. Augustus with the flamines. Rome, Ara Pacis, south frieze
(detail). Marble. 13-9 B.C, 166
VII.5. Sacro-idyllic painting with shrine from Boscotrecase. Naples,
Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Augustan, 178
VII.6. Shrine of the Vestals. Rome, Forum Romanum, 179
VII.7. Augustus at an outdoor shrine. Belvedere Altar. Vatican
Museums. 12-2 B.C., 181
VII.8. Claudius. Marble. Aquilea. Claudian, 184
VII.9. Divus Augustus. Marble. Aquilea. Claudian, 184
VII. 10. Divus Augustus portrait (from a cuirassed statue). Marble.
Jesi, Pinacoteca Civica, 185
VII. 11. Aenatores' monument: four-stage reconstruction drawing, 187
VIII. 1. "Terme Ruler." Bronze. Rome, Museo Nazionale delle
Terme. Second century B.C. (?), 196
VIII.2. Hipmantled man. Bronze. Brindisi. Museo Archeologico
Provinciale "Francesco Ribezzo," 196
VIII.3. Cavenzano "Navarca" statue. Marble. Aquilea, Museo
Nazionale, 197
VIII.4. Capua "Narvarca" statue. Marble. Capua, Museo Provinciale
Campano di Capua, 197
VIII.5. Delos fragment. Marble. Delos, Archaeological Museum, 197
VIII.6. Tivoli "General" statue. Marble. Rome, Palazzo Massimo /
Museo Nazionale Romano delle Terme. Ca. 80 B.C, 197
xiv