Diefied Augustus Religion Analysis
Suetonius’ Depiction of Augustus’ Attitudes Towards Family and Religion
Lives of the Caesars- Diefied Augustus, was written by Gauis Suetonius Tranquilius. It was basically a biography on the life of Augustus, which was written towards the general public in 121 AD (during the reign of Emperor Hadrian). Diefied Augustus has many references to Augustus’ connection to his family and his approach to religion. Suetonius begins by telling us that Augustus (born Gauis Octavius Thurinus) was the son of Gauis Octavius- a man of great wealth and reputation. He had one younger sister Octavia, who was born to the same mother, and an elder half-sister also named Octavia (daughter of Octavius and Ancharia). His mother Aria was the niece of Julius Caesar. …show more content…
Even his sons (really his grandsons, sons by adoption) and his stepsons were not allowed to be referred to by any other names, because military order came before the dignity of his own family (Ch. 25) Suetonius goes on to say, Augustus had increased the number and dignity of the priests and gave them vast privileges, especially in the cases replacing a dead Vestal Virgin. Many times, priests tried to use all their influence and did all they could to avoid their daughters being put in the lottery to be “Rome’s Next Vestal Virgin”. Augustus swore that if any one of his granddaughters had been of age, he would’ve gladly put their names forward (Ch. 31). The two cases mentioned above demonstrate how Augustus put the matters of the state before his family, and this is an honorable trait for a leader- to be equal with the peoples he governs. Augustus also used his family as a model for the republic- in the laws of marriages and bearing children. He brought forward the large family of Germanicus (Augustus’ step-grandson) and Agrippina (Augustus’ granddaughter), who had many children and advised that people should take example of this wonderful
Lives of the Caesars- Diefied Augustus, was written by Gauis Suetonius Tranquilius. It was basically a biography on the life of Augustus, which was written towards the general public in 121 AD (during the reign of Emperor Hadrian). Diefied Augustus has many references to Augustus’ connection to his family and his approach to religion. Suetonius begins by telling us that Augustus (born Gauis Octavius Thurinus) was the son of Gauis Octavius- a man of great wealth and reputation. He had one younger sister Octavia, who was born to the same mother, and an elder half-sister also named Octavia (daughter of Octavius and Ancharia). His mother Aria was the niece of Julius Caesar. …show more content…
Even his sons (really his grandsons, sons by adoption) and his stepsons were not allowed to be referred to by any other names, because military order came before the dignity of his own family (Ch. 25) Suetonius goes on to say, Augustus had increased the number and dignity of the priests and gave them vast privileges, especially in the cases replacing a dead Vestal Virgin. Many times, priests tried to use all their influence and did all they could to avoid their daughters being put in the lottery to be “Rome’s Next Vestal Virgin”. Augustus swore that if any one of his granddaughters had been of age, he would’ve gladly put their names forward (Ch. 31). The two cases mentioned above demonstrate how Augustus put the matters of the state before his family, and this is an honorable trait for a leader- to be equal with the peoples he governs. Augustus also used his family as a model for the republic- in the laws of marriages and bearing children. He brought forward the large family of Germanicus (Augustus’ step-grandson) and Agrippina (Augustus’ granddaughter), who had many children and advised that people should take example of this wonderful