Augustan Culture

By Karl Galinsky

Book Overview

Grand political accomplishment and artistic productivity were the hallmarks of Augustus Caesar's reign (31 B.C. to A.D. 14), which has served as a powerful model of achievement for societies throughout Western history. Although much research has been done on individual facets of Augustan culture, Karl Galinsky's book is the first in decades to present a unified overview, one that brings together political and social history, art, literature, architecture, and religion. Weaving analysis and narrative throughout a richly illustrated text, Galinsky provides not only an enjoyable account of the major ideas of the age, but also an interpretation of the creative tensions and contradictions that made for its vitality and influence.

Galinsky draws on source material ranging from coins and inscriptions to the major works of poetry and art, and challenges the schematic concepts and dichotomies that have commonly been applied to Augustan culture. He demonstrates that this culture was neither monolithic nor the mere result of one man's will. Instead it was a nuanced process of evolution and experimentation. Augustan culture had many contributors, as Galinsky demonstrates, and their dynamic interactions resulted in a high point of creativity and complexity that explains the transcendence of the Augustan age. Far from being static, its sophisticated literary and artistic monuments call for the active response and involvement of the reader and viewer even today.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691058903
• ISBN13: 9780691058900
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 488 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Review by Former Student

I took Professor Galinsky's Intro to Ancient Rome class at the University of Texas at Austin. After having him in class and seeing what a wonderful, intelligent professor he was I did a little research on him. I eventually found he wrote a book and decided to read it. I must say his knowledge and insight into transformation of Roman culture during the reign of August is superb. A great read for scholars and dabblers alike.

Former Student

This book is an excellent and informative book with an objective viewpoint of the Augustan era and its significance for the Roman Empire and Western Civilization. It details how the fundamentals of the Age of Augustus provided the foundations of the empire that survived the lunatic reins of Nero and Caligula as well as the unheralded expansion that brought diverse cultures and people into the Roman flock. I had Prof.Galinsky for a Roman Culture class and he is an excellent and entertaining teacher. Read what the man has to write.

A very good book

Not many monographs can successfully and thoroughly describe an era so complex and multi-dimensional as the Age of Augustus. Galinsky's book may be numbered among those works that will be welcomed by both a specialist classicist and a general reader. Far from simply surveying the various departments of culture during a certain period, it advances an interpretation of perhaps the most complex era in the evolution of Roman history and culture as a whole. The book treats the general reader with a jargon-free, yet accurate and informative discussion of the politics, religion, literature, moral culture and ideas, art and architecture of Augustus' times; at the same time, the classicist will also find an interpretation that proves to be strong, serious, and weightily argued. Auctoritas, the root behind Augustus name, becomes the nucleus around which all spheres of Roman politics and culture revolve. The book begins with an exemplary discussion of the notion of "aucotoritas" and then moves on to explore how "auctoritas" as well as other major lines of Augustus' policy, such as the interaction between tradition and innovation, or public and private. Each of the chapters two through six discuss the "Augustan" influence in, respectively, politics, ideals and values, religion, art and architecture, religion, and literature. Chapter seven discusses the strong presence of Hellenism in Augustus' Rome. I would highly recommend it.

great book for scholar and layperson alike

I am not an academic but have an abiding interest in classical history. Dr. Galinsky's book is an excellent distillation of the Augustan era. He masterfully draws together different threads of Augustan culture and, without lecturing, shows their relevance to our modern age. The book should be standard reading in college courses and is very accessible to the layperson as well as the academic. I highly recommend it.

comprehensive and insightful

This is a readalbe and scholarly book that synthesizes all aspects of the high tide of Roman culture. It deals with literature, art, politics,architecture, you name it. I especially liked the intro. section on leadership styles: modern politicians could learn a bit from old Augustus. Should be of interest to anyone who likes Roman culture. But those who believe that Augustus was a totalitarian or a fascist will be disappointed. This is not Galinsky's view!