How successfully did Octavian legitimise his civil war against Antony to the
people of Rome?
Horace Ode 1.37
Successful
‘intoxicated’, ‘calmed her frenzy’ - Cleopatra displayed as mad –
hysterical – not thinking straight and as a result dangerous
‘a maddened queen was still plotting’, ‘empire’s ruin’ – threat to the
empire – he acted to protect Rome ‘she fled from Rome’ – close
threat
‘her crowd of deeply-corrupted creatures’ – supernatural, metaphor,
foreign threat
‘showed no sign of womanish fear’ – unusual threat, counters
peoples archetypal view of woman – more of a danger
‘Now’s the time for drinking deep’ – celebration, battle was difficult
and worthy of celebration – leads Roman people to feel they’ve been
saved and have escaped danger
Not successful
‘sparrow-hawk follows the gentle dove’ – creates an image of an unfair
fight, pity for Cleopatra – especially as a woman
Propertius 3.11
Successful
‘conquered the conquering hero’ – Achilles controlled by a woman –
shows women’s power – Casts Cleopatra as a legitimate threat
‘Pompey’ – demonises Cleopatra and Egypt – killed a roman general –
repetition – reminds Romans of the Egyptians as ruthless
‘Jupiter’ ‘Anubis’ ‘Tiber’ ‘Nile’ – Contrasting Roman and Egyptian cultures
– emphasises foreign threat
‘What was it worth to have shattered Tarquin’s axes’ – Comparing
Cleopatra to Tarquin – evil – Octavian saved Rome from the threat of
falling back to this
‘Where are…now’ – Octavian is greater than these heros
Horace Epode 9
Successful
‘Lets delight in banishing fear and anxiety’ - People happier and safer
people of Rome?
Horace Ode 1.37
Successful
‘intoxicated’, ‘calmed her frenzy’ - Cleopatra displayed as mad –
hysterical – not thinking straight and as a result dangerous
‘a maddened queen was still plotting’, ‘empire’s ruin’ – threat to the
empire – he acted to protect Rome ‘she fled from Rome’ – close
threat
‘her crowd of deeply-corrupted creatures’ – supernatural, metaphor,
foreign threat
‘showed no sign of womanish fear’ – unusual threat, counters
peoples archetypal view of woman – more of a danger
‘Now’s the time for drinking deep’ – celebration, battle was difficult
and worthy of celebration – leads Roman people to feel they’ve been
saved and have escaped danger
Not successful
‘sparrow-hawk follows the gentle dove’ – creates an image of an unfair
fight, pity for Cleopatra – especially as a woman
Propertius 3.11
Successful
‘conquered the conquering hero’ – Achilles controlled by a woman –
shows women’s power – Casts Cleopatra as a legitimate threat
‘Pompey’ – demonises Cleopatra and Egypt – killed a roman general –
repetition – reminds Romans of the Egyptians as ruthless
‘Jupiter’ ‘Anubis’ ‘Tiber’ ‘Nile’ – Contrasting Roman and Egyptian cultures
– emphasises foreign threat
‘What was it worth to have shattered Tarquin’s axes’ – Comparing
Cleopatra to Tarquin – evil – Octavian saved Rome from the threat of
falling back to this
‘Where are…now’ – Octavian is greater than these heros
Horace Epode 9
Successful
‘Lets delight in banishing fear and anxiety’ - People happier and safer
