Arts and Culture

The Aeneid was written by the Roman poet, Virgil, in the first century BCE. It tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a refugee fleeing the conflict caused by the Trojan War. According to Virgil, Aeneas fled to Italy where he established the city of Rome. The Romans were great admirers of Greek literature and culture and The Aeneid represents how the foundational myths of Rome were associated with the continuation of Greek legacy.

In the latter years of the Roman Republic, the power of individual generals was growing due to a series of reforms and political changes. Originally, imperium_, or “the right to rule and command the army,_” was bestowed on an individual by the Roman Senate. Over time, however, as generals grew more and more powerful, they began to bestow imperium upon themselves and used their personal armies to reinforce their claim.

Cicero was a politician, philosopher, political theorist, linguist, and orator who lived in Rome during the waning years of the Roman Republic. He is primarily remembered by contemporary history as a skilled orator. He notably opposed Julius Caesar when Caesar took control of the Roman Republic and he issued a series of diatribes against Mark Antony when the latter tried to take power for himself after Caesar’s death. Cicero was executed for his troubles, but history remembers him as a great public speaker, an important contributor to the development of European language, and a principled defender of republicanism.

Kafka and Lord Byron were prominent authors, however they lived many centuries after the fall of Rome, so they would not be good choices. Homer was the Greek poet who composed The Odyssey and The Iliad, but he did not write the poem in question, so he would not be a good choice. Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and wrote some of the most important works in Stoicism, however he did not write the Metamorphoses, so he would not be a good choice. Lastly, Ovid is most famous for the poem in question, so he would be the best choice.

Social life in the Roman Republic was organized around tight-knit and extremely patriarchal families. The Romans placed great emphasis on family life and practiced ancestor veneration. Roman society was dominated by men and Roman families were no exception.

Roman Senators were generally appointed for life. Unlike other elected positions in the Roman Republic, Senators had relatively few checks on their power. Senators were drawn from the aristocratic patrician families of ancient Rome.

The Temple of Portunus was built in the late second century BCE in the city of Rome. It is one of the best-surviving temples left behind by the Roman Republic. The Temple of Portunus was constructed in the style of the Ionic order. The Ionic order is one of the three main architectural styles of the classical period of European history. It is characterized by the use of volutes (which are essentially ornamental bases for columns).

The latin phrase cursus honorum translates to “sequence of offices.” It was a term used during the history of the Roman Republic to describe the correct traditional order of political offices sought by aristocratic politicians (similar to the United States; if an inspiring president first serves as a representative, then a senator, then secretary of state). The highest position was that of the consul.

The Roman Forum was the social and ceremonial center of the city of Rome. The Roman Forum grew organically and gradually, throughout the history of settlement in Rome. Among many other functions, the Roman Forum served as the final stop on the procession of so-called triumphs, which were a sort of military parade to celebrate Roman conquest of a new territory.

The cursus honorum was the Roman term used to describe the correct sequence of political office sought by would-be politicians. It begins with the office of quaestor, followed by aedile, praetor, and finally, consul. So, an individual politician who wanted to one day be consul would first seek to serve as a quaestor, aedile, and praetor — effectively moving up the ladder of power with each title.