The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus

The age of Augustus, commonly dated to 30 BC – AD 14, was a pivotal period in world history. A time of tremendous change in Rome, Italy, and throughout the Mediterranean world, many developments were underway when Augustus took charge and a recurring theme is the role that he played in shaping their direction. The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Augustus captures the dynamics and richness of this era by examining important aspects of political and social history, religion, literature, and art and architecture. The sixteen essays, written by distinguished specialists from the United States and Europe, explore the multi-faceted character of the period and the interconnections between social, religious, political, literary, and artistic developments. Introducing the reader to many of the central issues of the Age of Augustus, the essays also break new ground and will stimulate further research and discussion.

• Provides a variety of new perspectives on a pivotal period in world history and civilization. • Numerous illustrations, including colour plates and maps • Written both as an introduction to the central issues of the age and as an interpretive guide

Part I. Political History: 1. Augustus and the power of tradition Walter Eder; 2. Augustus and the making of the principate Erich Gruen; Part II. Intellectual and Social Developments: 3. Mutatas formas: the Augustan transformation of Roman knowledge Andrew Wallace-Hadrill; 4. Romans in the Roman world Nicholas Purcell; 5. Provincial perspectives Greg Woolf; 6. Women in the time of Augustus Susan Treggiari; Part III. The Emperor’s Impact: 7. The Emperor as impresario Richard Beacham; 8. Augustus and Roman religion John Scheid; Part IV. Art and the City: 9. Semblance and storytelling in Augustan Rome Diana Kleiner; 10. Making Rome a world city Diane Favro; 11. Augustan domestic interiors John Clarke; Part V. Augustan Literature: 12. Learned eyes Alessandro Barchiesi; 13. Augustan poetry and Augustanism Jasper Griffin; 14. Poets in the new milieu Peter White; 15. Vergil’s Aeneid and Ovid’s Metamorphoses as world literature Karl Galinsky; Part VI. Epilogue as Prologue: 16. Herod and the Jewish experience of Augustan rule Michael White.

\'Galinsky\'s editing of the volume is to be largely commended. All the essays are clear and written in an engaging style.\' Bryn Mawr Classical Review

\'This book is thoroughly to be recommended. The articles are authoritative and scholarly, yet accessible and interesting … an excellent survey of the character of this important period of history.\' Journal of Classics Teaching