The House of Augustus : A Historical Detective Story

Caesar Augustus (63 BC-14 AD), who is usually thought of as the first Roman emperor, lived on the Palatine Hill, the place from which the word "palace" originates. A startling reassessment of textual and archaeological evidence, The House of Augustus demonstrates that Augustus was never an emperor in any meaningful sense of the word, that he never had a palace, and that the so-called "Casa di Augusto" excavated on the Palatine was a lavish aristocratic house destroyed by the young Caesar in order to build the temple of Apollo. Exploring the Palatine from its first occupation to the present, T. P. Wiseman proposes a reexamination of the "Augustan Age," including much of its literature. Wiseman shows how the political and ideological background of Augustus's rise to power offers a radically different interpretation of the ancient evidence about the Augustan Palatine. Taking a long historical perspective in order to better understand the topography, Wiseman considers the legendary stories of Rome's origins - in particular Romulus's foundation and inauguration of the city on the summit of the Palatine. He examines the new temple of Apollo and the piazza it overlooked, as well as the portico around it with its library used as a hall for Senate meetings, and he illustrates how Commander Caesar, who became Caesar Augustus, was the champion of the Roman people against an oppressive oligarchy corrupting the Republic. A decisive intervention in a critical debate among ancient historians and archaeologists, The House of Augustus recalibrates our views of a crucially important period and a revered public space.

A radical reexamination of the textual and archaeological evidence about Augustus and the Palatine

Caesar Augustus (63 BC-AD 14), who is usually thought of as the first Roman emperor, lived on the Palatine Hill, the place from which the word "palace" originates. A startling reassessment of textual and archaeological evidence,The House of Augustus demonstrates that Augustus was never an emperor in any meaningful sense of the word, that he never had a palace, and that the so-called "Casa di Augusto" excavated on the Palatine was a lavish aristocratic house destroyed by the young Caesar in order to build the temple of Apollo. Exploring the Palatine from its first occupation to the present, T. P. Wiseman proposes a reexamination of the "Augustan Age," including much of its literature.

Wiseman shows how the political and ideological background of Augustus' rise to power offers a radically different interpretation of the ancient evidence about the Augustan Palatine. Taking a long historical perspective in order to better understand the topography, Wiseman considers the legendary stories of Rome's origins-in particular Romulus' foundation and inauguration of the city on the summit of the Palatine. He examines the new temple of Apollo and the piazza it overlooked, as well as the portico around it with its library used as a hall for Senate meetings, and he illustrates how Commander Caesar, who became Caesar Augustus, was the champion of the Roman people against an oppressive oligarchy corrupting the Republic.

A decisive intervention in a critical debate among ancient historians and archaeologists,The House of Augustus recalibrates our views of a crucially important period and a revered public space A radical reexamination of the textual and archaeological evidence about Augustus and the Palatine Caesar Augustus (63 BCAD 14), who is usually thought of as the first Roman emperor, lived on the Palatine Hill, the place from which the word palace originates. A startling reassessment of textual and archaeological evidence, The House of Augustus demonstrates that Augustus was never an emperor in any meaningful sense of the word, that he never had a palace, and that the so-called "Casa di Augusto" excavated on the Palatine was a lavish aristocratic house destroyed by the young Caesar in order to build the temple of Apollo. Exploring the Palatine from its first occupation to the present, T. P. Wiseman proposes a reexamination of the "Augustan Age," including much of its literature. Wiseman shows how the political and ideological background of Augustus' rise to power offers a radically different interpretation of the ancient evidence about the Augustan Palatine. Taking a long historical perspective in order to better understand the topography, Wiseman considers the legendary stories of Romes originsin particular Romulus' foundation and inauguration of the city on the summit of the Palatine. He examines the new temple of Apollo and the piazza it overlooked, as well as the portico around it with its library used as a hall for Senate meetings, and he illustrates how Commander Caesar, who became Caesar Augustus, was the champion of the Roman people against an oppressive oligarchy corrupting the Republic. A decisive intervention in a critical debate among ancient historians and archaeologists, The House of Augustus recalibrates our views of a crucially important period and a revered public space. César Augusto (63 a.C.-14 d.C.), considerado habitualmente como el primer emperador romano, vivió en el Palatino, lugar del que procede la palabra "palacio". Una sorprendente reevaluación de las pruebas textuales y arqueológicas,"The House of Augustus" demuestra que Augusto nunca fue un emperador en sentido real de la palabra, que nunca tuvo un palacio, y que la llamada "Casa di Augusto" excavada en el Palatino fue una fastuosa casa aristocrática destruida por el joven César para construir el templo de Apolo. Explorando el Palatino desde su primera ocupación hasta el presente, T. P. Wiseman propone un reexamen de la "Edad de Augusto", incluyendo gran parte de su literatura. Wiseman muestra cómo el trasfondo político e ideológico del ascenso de Augusto al poder ofrece una interpretación radicalmente diferente de las antiguas evidencias sobre el Palatino de Augusto. Adoptando una larga perspectiva histórica para comprender mejor la topografía, Wiseman considera los relatos legendarios de los orígenes de Roma, en particular la fundación de Rómulo y la inauguración de la ciudad en la cima del Palatino. Examina el nuevo templo de Apolo y la plaza a la que daba, así como el pórtico que lo rodeaba con su biblioteca utilizada como sala para las reuniones del Senado, e ilustra cómo el comandante César, que se convirtió en César Augusto, fue el campeón del pueblo romano contra una oligarquía opresora que corrompía la República. Una intervención decisiva en un debate crítico entre los historiadores y arqueólogos de la antigüedad, La Casa de Augusto recalibra nuestra visión de un período de importancia crucial y de un espacio público venerado Preface -- 1. Understanding Augustus -- 2. History and archaeology -- 3. The palace -- 4. Palatine prehistory -- 5. Palatine legends -- 6. The Romulus paradigm -- 7. Commander Caesar and his gods -- 8. The temple and the portico -- 9. Palatine poets -- 10. A miscarriage of justice.