- That Augustus was personally instrumental in the victory over Cleopatra "hawk against a gentle dove" and "Caesar pursued her from Italy"
- Paints Augustus as the defender of Rome "The maddened queen was plotting demented ruin of the capitol"
What does he specifically say about the role of the gods?
- Compares the victory festival to "feasts worthy of the Salii" (priests who worshiped the gods through festival and dance)
- "decks the couches of our gods" - compares the celebrations to a religious ceremony
- Implies that the gods were on Augustus' side and that he was fighting for the defence of Roman civilisation
How does he promote the official propaganda line?
- Exaggerates the importance of the victory - "draw out the Caecuban" (a very expensive wine that would be saved for the most special occasions
- Promotes the idea that if the Romans lost, it would be conquered by Egypt and Cleopatra - "planning our empire's funeral rites"
- Downplays the civil war aspect - contrasts the Caecuban wine with "Mareotic wine"
- "Doom laden monster"
- "Contaminated crew of men"
What does he fail to mention about Actium?
- No mention of Mark Antony
- The fact that many Roman lives were lost
- No mention of Agrippa
- The fact that Augustus used the victory to seize power
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