Horace poems

Question 1

How does Horace, epode a toast to Actium portray Augustus’ enemy Antony?

Answer 1

Essentially being seduced by the corrupting eastern influence of Cleopatra, meaning that both Antony’s masculinity and Roman identity have been lost, as he now serves a foreign woman.
“Serve the withered eunuchs “- demonstrates the suspicion of the east.

Question 2

How does Horace Ode Cleopatra (1.37) portray the suicide of Cleopatra

Answer 2

Horace demonstrates some admiration towards Cleopatra, showing her to be noble to the end, being too proud to be humiliated in Augustus’ triumph. In reality her suicide as probably allowed by Augustus.

Question 3

What message is Horace’s poem Moral Decadence (3.6) trying to promote ?

Answer 3

The poem demonstrates the concept of Pax Doerum (Divine peace) arguing that the civil wars had befallen the Romans due to their neglect of temples and daily rituals. Therefore Augustus that man who has rebuilt many temples is responsible for the new divine favour.