Augustus and the Res Gestae: Rome's Imperial Autobiography

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, the first emperor's own written account of his achievements. Discover how Augustus crafted his legacy through this monumental inscription, which survives today as the 'Queen of Inscriptions.' They discuss the text's discovery at the Temple of Rome and Augustus in Ancyra (modern Ankara, Turkey), its structure in 35 chapters covering military conquests, civic benefactions, and political honors, and the subtle propaganda woven into its modest first-person narrative. Lucas explains the 'clupeus virtutis' (shield of virtues) awarded by the Senate, the closing 'exemplum' passage urging imitation of his reign, and how the Res Gestae compares to later imperial autobiographies. They also touch on the role of Tiberius in completing the text after Augustus's death in AD 14, and the stone's survival as a unique window into Augustan ideology. A must-listen for anyone fascinated by how history is shaped by those who write it. #ResGestae #Augustus #RomanEmpire #QueenOfInscriptions #Ancyra #Epigraphy #RomanHistory #ImperialPropaganda #Tiberius #ClupeusVirtutis #Exemplum #MonumentumAncyranum #LatinInscriptions #AugustanAge #Legacy #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast #AugustusCaesar #Principate Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo