Imperial Rome used various forms of propaganda to promote the state and its leaders. Epic poetry by Virgil and Horace glorified the achievements of Augustus and exposed human folly. Coins conveyed changing policies and honors through images and legends. Gladiatorial games in the Colosseum entertained citizens and distracted them from poverty. Emperors promoted themselves as religious figures to gain popular support and legitimacy. Together, these arts helped shape public opinion in support of Rome's imperial message.

1. Propaganda
in Imperial
Rome
by: Dee Dee Lacy

2. What is the definition of propaganda?
 Propaganda can only be described as
information, ideas, or rumors deliberately
spread widely to help or harm a person,
group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

3. Arts that served as propaganda
 Epic poetry and Literature
 Roman Drama
 Roman Architecture
 Coins
 Gladiators
 Religion

4. Epic poetry(Virgil and Horace)
 Epic poetry in imperial Rome came about by two men that
were true followers of Augustus.
 ( Publius Vergilius Maro, 70-19 B.C.E.). Can be formally
named as Virgil the true believer.
 Virgil best work would be the Aeneid.
 Virgil wrote the Aeneid to glorify the imperial of
achievements Augustus, he immersed the poem with an
epic theme that reflects the sober ideals of ancient Rome:
the primacy of duty-that of the citizen , of the warrior, and
of the state.
(Fiero)p.9-10,

5. Virgil and Horace

6. Epic Poetry ( Horace and Virgil)
 Horace was considered as the convert.
 Horace wrote verses that exposed various types of
human folly—self indulgence, vanity, ambition,
and greed-by pointing up the contradictions
between practical realties and abstract ideals.
 With that being said the lyric poems reflect the
Roman affection for satire, a literary genre that
uses humor to denounce human vice and folly.
(Fiero)p.72

7. Satires
 Satires were thought to be another landmark
for Roman literature.
 Literature to Romans was moralizing in which
human imperfection is not simply criticized ,
but, rather, mocked by way of biting wit and
comic exaggeration between two human
beings.
(Fiero)p.71

8. Imperial Propaganda Coins

9. Imperial Propaganda Coins
 Coinage also served to convey the message of changing policies,
merits and achievements throughout the empire.
 Images upon these coins were of great importance since their
development c.300 BC, however it was only in the second century
BC that the importance of another feature emerged; the rising
significance of the legend, the text that runs around the edge of
the coin.
 The legends of Roman coins functioned in two ways; to indicate
the authority responsible for the coins, generally found on the
obverse, and to communicate a message conveyed by the issuing
authority on the reverse.
 The first function is undoubtedly the most important, as the authority
of the person whose name appeared on the coin determined the
legitimacy of the message proclaimed.

10. cont.
 One such example is a coin of Augustus, during the period in
which he was a member of the second triumvirate.
 During this period the triumvirs made great use of written text
on their coins, detailing their titles and honors to the extent
that, at times, the legend would occupy both sides of the
coin.
 Coins such as this reveal how the legend served to identify
the issuing authorities, at times taking place of the issuers
image upon the obverse. Thus, the legends involved are
significant additions to the propaganda value of Roman
coins in two manners: they endeavor to persuade the
audience that the coin is legitimate through emphasizing
names and positions that command respect; and
consequently they request respect for the ideologies they
present, therefore legitimizing the issuing authority and the
regime that distributed them.

11. Gladiators of Imperial Rome
 In ancient Rome death was the number one form of
entertainment.
 The Romans continued the practice, holding games roughly 10
to 12 times in an average year. Paid for by the emperor, the
games were used to keep the poor and unemployed
entertained and occupied. The emperor hoped to distract the
poor from their poverty in the hopes that they would not revolt.
 In Rome, the gladiatorial contests were held in the Coliseum, a
huge stadium that first opened in 80 C.E. Located in the middle
of the city, the Coliseum was circular in shape with three levels
of arches around the outside. In height, the Coliseum was as
tall as a modern 12-story building; it held 50,000 spectators.

12. Gladiator Coliseum

13. Religion During Imperial Rome
 The objective of Roman
worship was to gain the
blessing of the gods and
thereby gain prosperity for
themselves, their families and
communities.
 Emperors understood the
central importance of religion
to the lives of the Romans and
used it for their own ends.
Augustus appointed himself as
the chief priest – or Pontifex
Maximus – and used the
appearance of Halley’s Comet
to claim that he was, himself,
the son of a god.
 Unlike most religions today,
the Roman gods did not
demand strong moral
behavior. Roman religion
involved cult worship.
Approval from the gods did
not depend on a person’s
behavior, but on perfectly
accurate observance of
religious rituals. Each god
needed an image – usually
a statue or relief in stone or
bronze – and an altar or
temple at which to offer
the prayers and sacrifices.

14. Religion Sculptures During Imperial Rome

15. Cited Works
Article Title: Propaganda. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition. 1, Dec. 2013
Publication Name: Critical Quarterly. Oct2013, Vol. 55 Issue 3, p44-58. 15p.
URL:
http://proxygsugnt1.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db
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Article Title: A Review of “The Romans in the Age of Augustus”
Publication Name: History: Reviews of New Books; 2012, Vol. 40 Issue 3, p88-88, 1p
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http://proxygsugnt1.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db
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Article Title: Religion
Website: www.pbs.org
URL: http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/religion.html
Article Title: Two Hoards of Coins and Jewelry Items from the Time of the Roman-Bosporan War of AD 45-
49 from the Site of Artesian
Publication Name: Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia. 2012, Vol. 18 Issue 2, p207-278. 72p. 25
Black and White Photographs, 1 Chart.
URL:
http://proxygsugnt1.galileo.usg.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db
=a9h&AN=84123013&site=eds-live&scope=site
Article: Gladiators, Chariots, and the Roman Games
Website: ushistory.org
URL:http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6e.asp
Article Title: Propaganda Through the Ages
Publication Name: 02-Jowett-4812.qxd 11/7/2005 2:10 PM Page 49
URL: http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/11848_Chapter2.pdf
Fiero, Gloria K. Landmarks in Humanities. 3rd ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2013. Print.