Ushering in a new Republic : theologies of arrival at Rome in the first century BCE

345 Pages·2014·3.5 MB·English

by  Luke, Trevor S.

Ushering in a New Republic

Ushering in a New Republic
Theologies of Arrival at Rome
in the First Century BCE
Trevor S. Luke
The University of Michigan Press
Ann Arbor
Copyright © by Trevor Luke 2014
All rights reserved
This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form
(beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and
except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publisher.
Published in the United States of America by
The University of Michigan Press
Manufactured in the United States of America
c Printed on acid- free paper
2017 2016 2015 2014 4 3 2 1
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Luke, Trevor S.
Ushering in a new Republic : theologies of arrival at Rome in the first century BCE /
Trevor S. Luke.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978- 0- 472- 07222- 4 (hardcover : acid- free paper) — ISBN 978- 0- 472- 05222- 6
(paperback : acid- free paper) — ISBN 978- 0- 472- 12038- 3 (e- book)
1. Rome— Politics and government— 265– 30 B.C. 2. Rome— Politics and gov-
ernment— 30 B.C.– 68 A.D. 3. Rome— History, Military. 4. Emperors— Rome—
History. 5. Generals— Rome— History. 6. Political customs and rites— Rome—
History. 7. Religion and politics— Rome— History. 8. Theology— Political
aspects— Rome— History. 9. Performance— Rome— Religious aspects— History.
10. Classical literature— History and criticism. I. Title.
DG254.2.L85 2014
937'.05— dc23
2013048529
Carissimae

Acknowledgments
This monograph developed from my doctoral dissertation, which I submit-
ted to the University of Pennsylvania. I am in debt to my adviser, Brent
Shaw, whose seminar on Tacitus first sparked my interest in adventus, and
to the members of my committee, whose critiques were useful for helping
me reframe my project. I am also indebted to my first mentor in things
Roman, Prof. John F. Hall, whose work on the saeculum inspired my con-
tinuing interest in the subject. I would like to thank my colleague Laurel
Fulkerson for reading an early version of the manuscript, offering many
helpful suggestions, and bringing important bibliography to my notice. I
would also like to thank the anonymous readers of the University of Michi-
gan Press, whose comments and suggestions were invaluable. All errors in
the text are, of course, my own.
An earlier version of chapter 4 appeared in volume 15 of the Papers of the
Langford Latin Seminar. I thank Francis Cairns for permission to include a
modified version of the material here. Earlier versions of some of the mate-
rial in other chapters were presented at the annual meetings of the Ameri-
can Philological Association and the Classical Association of the Middle
West and South and at meetings of the Conference on Orality and Literacy
in the Ancient World and the Project for Redescribing Graeco- Roman An-
tiquity. I benefited greatly from the thought- provoking comments and chal-
lenging questions I was offered on each occasion. Particularly beneficial
was the 2010 Spring Langford Conference, which I assisted my colleague
Allen Romano in organizing. My special appreciation goes to the speak-
ers who kindly accepted our invitation and shared their brilliant insights
with us. Funding from Florida State University’s President’s Travel Grant
Program and First Year Assistant Professor Award enabled me to travel to
viii acknowledgments
conferences and conduct crucial research. Finally, I would like to thank the
editorial staff of the University of Michigan Press, most especially Ellen
Bauerle and Alexa Ducsay, for making this monograph a reality.
This book is dedicated to five people: my dearest wife, whose love, pa-
tience, and tireless effort inspired me to keep pressing forward; both my
parents, whose innate curiosity and keen intelligence sparked my imagina-
tion; T. J. Wellman, a friend of rare character, brilliant insight, and exacting
critical faculties; and Don Bradley, a great friend and invaluable interlocu-
tor for historical brainstorming.
All translations in this monograph are my own unless otherwise indi-
cated.
Contents
Abbreviations xi
Introduction: Performance, Political Theology, and Arrival 1
Part I. The Sullan Republic
Chapter 1. The Theology of Departure and Arrival in
Sulla’s Memoir 33
Chapter 2. Pompey’s Recognitio Equitum 59
Chapter 3. Cicero’s Epic and Civic Theologies of Departure
and Return 88
Part II. The Civil War
Chapter 4. Julius Caesar as Rex? The Ovatio of January 44 115
Chapter 5. Octavian’s Return in 36: Achieving His Father’s Honors 140
Part III. The Res Gestae and the Advent of the Princeps
Chapter 6. The Res Gestae as Divine Relic 175
Chapter 7. Theologies of Arrival in the Res Gestae 197
Chapter 8. Augustus as the New Numa 242
Conclusion: Apotheosis and Succession 261
Bibliography 279
Index 319
Illustrations follow page 278