- It was Augustus' means of gaining power - "he faced no opposition since the bravest souls had either died in battle or fallen victim to proscription"
- "he seduced the soldiers with gifts, the people with corn and everyone with the delights of peace"
- The word seduced implies manipulation
- "he gradually increased his power, arrogating to himself the functions of the Senate, the magistrates and the law"
In what ways is his writing different/similar to that of the poets?
- He doesn't glorify Augustus or the battle like the poets do
- The civil war element is emphasised, along with Augustus' use of the battle to cement his own power and rid himself of opposition
- He focuses more on the aftermath of Actium, rather than the battle itself
- Shows the sycophantic attitude of society - "the surviving nobles enjoyed a wealth and status that increased in proportion to their servility"
- "and having profited by the revolution, they preferred the present safety to the insecurity of the past"
What does he fail to mention about Actium?
- There is no mention of Cleopatra
- No mention of Agrippa
- He doesn't actually say what happened at the battle
- The consequences of the battle are not mentioned
No comments:
Post a Comment