
Inspiring reverence and blasphemy, combining paternal benignity with sexual violence, transcendent universality with tribal chauvinism, Jupiter represents both the best and the worst of ancient religion. Though often assimilated to Zeus, Jupiter differs from his Greek counterpart as much as Rome differs from Greece: "the god of Rome" conveys both Jupiter's sovereignty over Rome and his symbolic encapsulation of what Rome represents. Understanding this dizzyingly complex figure is crucial not only to the study of Roman religion, but also to the study of ancient Rome more generally.The God of Rome examines Jupiter in Latin poetry's most formative and fruitful period, the reign of the emperor Augustus. As Roman society was transformed from a republic or oligarchy to a de facto monarchy, Jupiter came to play a unique role as the celestial counterpart of the first earthly princeps. While studies of Augustan poetry may glance at Jupiter as an Augustus figure, or Augustus as a Jupiter figure, they rarely explore the poets' portrayal of the god as a character in his own right. This book fills that gap, exploring the god's manifestations in the five major Augustan poets (Virgil, Horace, Tibullus, Propertius, and Ovid). It provides a fascinating window on a transformative period of history, as well as a comprehensive view of the poets' individual personalities and shifting concerns.
This work investigates how the Roman deity Jupiter functioned as a complex symbolic and political figure within the poetry of the Augustan age. Julia Hejduk, a scholar of classical literature, analyzes the intersection of theology and political transition during the shift from the Roman Republic to the principate. By examining the portrayal of Jupiter across five major poets, the author argues that the god served as a vital celestial mirror for the evolving status of the emperor Augustus.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars recognize this text as a significant contribution to the study of Augustan literature, specifically for its focus on Jupiter as a distinct character rather than a mere proxy for the emperor. Readers frequently note the academic rigor of the prose and the depth of the close readings provided for each of the five poets.
Page Count:
356
Publication Date:
2020-03-02
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190607734
ISBN-13:
9780190607739
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