What Does Suetonius Say About Augustus?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Suetonius quotes Augustus as repeatedly cursing his enemies by saying that they should have “a wife and children like mine. ” According to Suetonius, Augustus lived a modest life, with few luxuries. Augustus lived in an ordinary Roman house, ate ordinary Roman meals, and slept in an ordinary Roman bed.

Is Suetonius a primary source Augustus?

Primary Sources: “ The Deeds of the Divine Augustus” by Augustus ( English translation of Res Gestae Divi Augusti) ... Suetonius, “Divus Augustus” (an outline by John Paul Adams)

What did Suetonius consider bad qualities in a leader?

Suetonius completed The Twelve Caesars sometime during the 120s during the peak of his career (xxiii). ... According to Suetonius, a Roman leaders good and bad qualities included their military successes , relations with the citizens of Rome, mental stability, and private relationships.

What does Suetonius say about Caligula?

In politics, Suetonius describes Caligula as vicious, cruel, and self-absorbed throughout his life to both those of the senatorial class and his close allies alike . He executed members of the Senate with whom he was displeased, mimicking the habit of his mentor Tiberius (Gaius XXVI).

What does Suetonius say about Tiberius?

On a purely rhetorical level, Suetonius neglects arrogating to Tiberius the epithet of “divine ,” which to this reader is telling in itself. Every emperor had his own moral failings, but Tiberius seems to go way beyond the normal depravity expected of a Roman ruler.

Why is Julius Caesar not a good leader?

On the other hand, Caesar can be considered a bad leader because of the way he went about changing the republic. As a consul, many of his actions were illegal. Instead of standing for trial, he went to war to take over the Republic. His lack of respect for the Senate and power -grabs made him unlikable.

What made Nero evil?

The Roman emperor Nero is considered one of history’s greatest criminals. His name has become synonymous with evil, as historic accounts have accused him of killing his stepbrother, his wife and his mother , as well persecuting Christians and instigating the devastating Great Fire of Rome.

What sources did Suetonius use?

Suetonius’ sources are authors like Cluvius Rufus, Pliny the Elder, and a collection of letters by the emperor Augustus . As far as we can see, he treats his subject matter more or less objectively. His biographies contain much gossip, but Suetonius does not ignore or misrepresent information from his sources.

What does Tacitus think of Augustus?

Tacitus here makes the claim that he is going to begin by telling a couple things about Augustus himself, the deified first princeps of Rome and as close to sacrosanct as a person could come in the Roman empire. He begins in this way, relating the events of Augustus’ death, but he does not stop there.

Is the 12 Caesars a primary source?

“About the Life of the Caesars”), commonly known as The Twelve Caesars, is a set of twelve biographies of Julius Caesar and the first 11 emperors of the Roman Empire written by Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus. ... The Twelve Caesars was considered very significant in antiquity and remains a primary source on Roman history .

What did Suetonius say about Jesus?

Here are the actual words of Suetonius that might mention Jesus Christ, “Since the Jews constantly made disturbances at the instigation of Chrestus, he, Emperor Claudius] expelled them from Rome .” That specific word, “Chrestus”, is similar enough to the Greek word for Messiah “Christos” that the vast majority of ...

What is Suetonius known for?

Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (c. ... 130/140 CE), better known simply as Suetonius, was a Roman writer whose most famous work is his biographies of the first 12 Caesars .

Who was the Cesar when Jesus was crucified?

Tiberius Reign 17 September 14 – 16 March 37 Predecessor Augustus Successor Caligula Born 16 November 42 BC Rome, Italy, Roman Republic

Why did Tacitus not like Tiberius?

Tacitus called this a crime, ignoring Tiberius’ claims that he was acting out on Augustus’s orders . Since Tiberius mentioned the death of Postumus to the senate one has to wonder how Tacitus would have known what was said on the matter outside of court records.

Who wrote about Tiberius?

Tiberius is a 1991 historical novel by Scottish writer Allan Massie , about the Roman Emperor Tiberius. It is the second in the series of novels Massie wrote about the early Roman Emperors.

Who did Tiberius imprison?

She publicly blamed Tiberius for her husband’s death and craved revenge. Tiberius struck back. He imprisoned Agrippina the Elder on a remote island, where she starved to death. The emperor then imprisoned her two older sons, one of whom killed himself; the other starved to death.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.