Greece and the Augustan Cultural Revolution (Greek Culture in the Roman World)

This book examines the impact of the Roman cultural revolution under Augustus on the Roman province of Greece. It argues that the transformation of Roman Greece into a classicizing 'museum' was a specific response of the provincial Greek elites to the cultural politics of the Roman imperial monarchy. Against a background of Roman debates about Greek culture and Roman decadence, Augustus promoted the ideal of a Roman debt to a 'classical' Greece rooted in Europe and morally opposed to a stereotyped Asia. In Greece the regime signalled its admiration for Athens, Sparta, Olympia and Plataea as symbols of these past Greek glories. Cued by the Augustan monarchy, provincial Greek notables expressed their Roman orientation by competitive cultural work (revival of ritual; restoration of buildings) aimed at further emphasising Greece's 'classical' legacy. Reprised by Hadrian, the Augustan construction of 'classical' Greece helped to promote the archaism typifying Greek culture under the principate. This Book Examines The Impact Of The Roman Cultural Revolution Under Augustus On The Roman Province Of Greece. It Argues That The Transformation Of Roman Greece Into A Classicizing 'museum' Was A Specific Response Of The Provincial Greek Elites To The Cultural Politics Of The Roman Imperial Monarchy. Against A Background Of Roman Debates About Greek Culture And Roman Decadence, Augustus Promoted The Ideal Of A Roman Debt To A 'classical' Greece Rooted In Europe And Morally Opposed To A Stereotyped Asia. In Greece The Regime Signalled Its Admiration For Athens, Sparta, Olympia And Plataea As Symbols Of These Past Greek Glories. Cued By The Augustan Monarchy, Provincial-greek Notables Expressed Their Roman Orientation By Competitive Cultural Work (revival Of Ritual; Restoration Of Buildings) Aimed At Further Emphasising Greece's 'classical' Legacy. Reprised By Hadrian, The Augustan Construction Of 'classical' Greece Helped To Promote The Archaism Typifying Greek Culture Under The Principate-- Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Introduction: Greece And The Augustan Age; 2. Athenian Eloquence And Spartan Arms; 3. The Noblest Actions Of The Greeks; 4. The Gifts Of The Gods; 5. Constructed Beauty; 6. Hadrian And The Legacy Of Augustus; Conclusion. A.j.s. Spawforth. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 6 Illustrations 7 Acknowledgments 8 CHAPTER 1 Introduction: Greece and the Augustan age 10 THE AUGUSTAN 'MORAL REVOLUTION' 13 ROMAN IMAGES OF GREECE 20 AUGUSTAN CLASSICISM 27 AUGUSTUS AND THE GREEK WORLD 35 AUGUSTUS AND NICOPOLIS 42 GREEK PROVINCIAL ELITES 45 CHAPTER 2 'Athenian eloquence and Spartan arms’ 68 ATHENS: THE AGRIPPEUM 68 SPARTA: THE 'COMMON DINING’ (SYSSITIA) 95 CHAPTER 3 'The noblest actions of the Greeks'1 112 ROMAN VIEWS 112 ATHENS 115 SPARTA 126 PLATAEA 139 CHAPTER 4 'The gifts of the gods'1 151 BEFORE AUGUSTUS 151 AUGUSTUS 168 BODIES OF 'SACRED ELDERS’ 178 MESSENE, THE CARNEASIUM AND ARGOS 188 SPARTA 195 ATHENS 201 CHAPTER 5 'Constructed beauty' 216 MESSENE 220 ATHENS AND SPARTA 227 OLYMPIA 230 MANTINEA 232 CHAPTER 6 Hadrian and the legacy of Augustus 242 AUGUSTAN GREECE IN LARGER CONTEXT 242 FROM AUGUSTUS TO HADRIAN 244 IMPERIAL POLICY UNDER HADRIAN 251 SPARTA 253 PLATAEA AND THE PERSIAN WARS 254 ELEUSIS, ATHENS AND THE PANHELLENION 255 THE ETHNIC IDENTITY OF THE PANHELLENION 261 THE MILITARY DIMENSION: THE 'EASTERN HADRIANIC BREASTPLATE TYPE’ 264 OPPOSITION? 270 ATTICISM AND THE SECOND SOPHISTIC 273 Conclusion 280 Bibliography 284 Index 318 9781107012110 Cambridge University Press "This book examines the impact of the Roman cultural revolution under Augustus on the Roman province of Greece. It argues that the transformation of Roman Greece into a classicizing 'museum' was a specific response of the provincial Greek elites to the cultural politics of the Roman imperial monarchy. Against a background of Roman debates about Greek culture and Roman decadence, Augustus promoted the ideal of a Roman debt to a 'classical' Greece rooted in Europe and morally opposed to a stereotyped Asia. In Greece the regime signalled its admiration for Athens, Sparta, Olympia and Plataea as symbols of these past Greek glories. Cued by the Augustan monarchy, provincial-Greek notables expressed their Roman orientation by competitive cultural work (revival of ritual; restoration of buildings) aimed at further emphasising Greece's 'classical' legacy. Reprised by Hadrian, the Augustan construction of 'classical' Greece helped to promote the archaism typifying Greek culture under the principate"-- Provided by publisher An examination of the reflections of the Augustan cultural revolution in the cities and sanctuaries of Roman Greece