historical and political context of aeneid

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  • Historical and political background
    • Romulus as a ruler
      • He was an aspirational Roman. He was determined, strong-minded and ruthless
      • He killed his brother because of disrespect and dishonour
      • He had a very ordered society where he was declared the ultimate ruler
    • Rome from Monarchy to republic
      • Rome was monarchy for 200 years until that changed due to the **** of Lucretia
      • The final king of Rome, Tarquinias Superbus' son, Sextus Tarquinias ****d and dishonoured Lucretia after a compettion between he and Collatinus to see who had the most virtous wife
      • Upon losing, he confessed his love to Lucretia instead  and she rejected him. He said that he would kill her and make it look like adultery. She could not risk this so he ****d her and she killed herself
      • Consequently, her father, his friend, her husband and his friend made a declaration that made Rome republic for 500 years. Brutus and Collatinus became the first two consuls of Rome
    • Augustus of Prima Porta
      • Shows some of the key values of Augustus by depicting his strength, authority, peace and relations
      • Religion is incorporated into the statue by the inscriptions on the breast plate which depict the gods. He is stood by Venus and Cupid, his ancestors
        • He is also barefoot which means he's godly
      • Family is shown through the fact he is stood next to his ancestors
      • Morals are depicted through the breast plate and how it promotes peace
      • Rome because of the links to Aeneas
    • Augustus was born Gaius Octavius on 23 September 63 BC in Rome. In 43 BC his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, was assassinated and in his will, Octavius, known as Octavian, was named as his heir. He fought to avenge Caesar and in 31 BC defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium
    • mos maiorum- the way of the elders
      • This was huge for Augustus. Important values such as gods, Rome, morals etc
    • Romanitas - being proud of Rome
    • Aeneas' shield
      • Gifted by Venus in book 8 and made by Vulcan
      • Depicts how Rome was founded by Romulus in 753 BC as well as the story of Romulus and Remus
        • Romulus built Rome on Palentine Hill
      • Also depicts the **** of the Sabine women led by Romulus to populate Rome
      • Its depicted with real life future Rome events
      • Also depicts the Battle of Actium in 31 BC where Augustus defeated Cleopatra and Anthony
    • Virgil wrote the Aeneid on behalf of Augustus to promote his regime. Misenus was Augustus' promoter
      • He uses Book 6, The Underworld , to show the pagent of futur Romans which include Augustus, the Ceasars etc
    • In The Aeneid, Aeneas is the embodiment of Augustus and the regime.

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