Restoration of the Republic Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is a Lustrum?
A lustration or purification of the whole Roman people performed by one of the censors in the Campus Martius.
The Lustrum was a significant ritual in ancient Rome, marking the purification of the community.
What role did a Dictator play in the Roman Republic?
An extraordinary magistrate endowed with full authority to resolve a specific problem.
The position of dictator was temporary and typically appointed during crises.
Who was the Pontifex Maximus?
The chief high priest of the College of Pontiffs in ancient Rome.
This role was crucial in conducting religious activities and overseeing the state religion.
What does ‘Laureate’ signify?
Eminence or association with literary awards or military glory.
The term is often used to denote someone honored for their achievements.
What is the Imperial Cult?
The identification of emperors and some family members with divinely sanctioned authority.
This cult was significant in promoting loyalty and reverence towards the emperor.
Define Numen.
A means of worshiping a living emperor without literally calling him a god.
This concept allowed for the veneration of emperors while maintaining monotheistic traditions.
What is a Genius?
An attendant spirit of a person or place.
In Roman belief, a genius was thought to protect and guide individuals.
What was the role of a Praetor in ancient Rome?
A judicial officer with broad authority in cases of equity and responsible for public games.
Praetors played a vital role in the legal system and public life.
Did Augustus restore the Republic?
Disputed; Tacitus and Vellius Paterculus hold opposing opinions.
The debate centers around Augustus’ reforms and their impact on traditional republican governance.
What does Virgil’s Aeneid say about Augustus?
Refers to him as ‘he who shall bring back again/the age of gold to Latium.’
This highlights Augustus’ portrayal as a savior of Rome.
What was the focus of Augustus’ moral and social purity reforms?
Legitimacy of offspring through the Julian Laws on the duties of husbands and constraining adultery.
These reforms aimed to promote traditional family values in Roman society.
When was the first official census of the Roman people carried out?
In 42 years, completed in 28 BC, 8 BC, and 14 AD.
This census was part of Augustus’ efforts to assess and manage the population.
What did Augustus claim regarding ancestral customs?
He took no office that controverted ancestral customs.
This statement emphasizes Augustus’ image as a traditionalist.
What significant action did Augustus take as Pontifex Maximus?
Collected and destroyed 2,000 volumes of prophetic verse, including the Sibylline Books.
This act represented Augustus’ control over religious tradition and prophecy.
