Virgil on Actium - G38, 6.626-731

What does he say specifically about the role of Augustus at Actium?

• He mentions both Agrippa and Augustus
• "leading the Italians into battle"
• "The Penates and the Great Gods"
• "The Senate"
• Suggests that as Augustus is supported by everyone, Mark Antony would obviously be in the wrong
• "Riding in triple triumph through the walls of Rome...making to Italy's gods his vows everlasting"
• Makes Augustus look very good

What does he specifically say about the role of the gods?

• That the gods fought in the battle
• "Minerva and Venus brandished their armaments"
• "Mars raged"
• "grim furies"
• "Discord" and "Bellona"
• "Actium Apollo was drawing his bow"
• Vs Egyptian gods - "misbegotten" suggests a clash of civilisations
• Agrippa "with the wind and gods on his side"
• "Barking Anubis, ranged against Neptune"

How does he promote the official propaganda line?

• Antony is mentioned as a foreign traitor
• "Antony with his barbarian motley"
• Antony mentioned "while (for shame!) an Egyptian wife followed behind"

What does he fail to mention about Actium?

• No mention of Roman soldiers on Antony's side - only Egyptian soldiers - implied that any Roman soldiers would have been misguided by Cleopatra
• No mention of Agrippa's decisive role in outmanoeuvering the Egyptian fleet
• Antony and Cleopatra's suicide - all the dubious events that followed the battle are omitted
• No mention of the Romans who died in battle