Octavian and Marc Antony- The Duel of Words and Deeds

Octavian and Marc Antony- The Duel of Words and Deeds Following the Julius Caesars death at the hands of the Senate, Octavian and Marc Antony propelled themselves to the pinnacle of Roman power. First joining together during the Second Triumvirate, these men represented the true power players of Roman politics. As their alliance fractured, both Romans resorted to propaganda to gain an edge over the other. Through insulting the other and polishing their own image, both Antony and Octavian looked to capture absolute Roman dominance. Even before their eventual war in 32 B.C.E., the men engaged in a duel of words in deeds. This paper will first overview the formation and disintegration of Second Triumvirate between Marc Antony, Marcus Lepidus, and Octavian. Its main portion will divulge the devious propaganda, leading up to the war in 32 B.C.E., used by Marc Antony and Octavian to destroy the other politically. Plutarchs Antony and Suetonius The Lives of the Caesars- The Deified Augustus (De Vita Caesarum - Divus Augustus) will serve as our main guide to this war of image. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, Marcus Lepidus, and Octavian met in October 43 BC to join together, rule the entire government of Rome, and the control the Roman provinces. In power, they were equal to the consuls and had the right to select magistrates. The triumvirs mission, during their first five year term, can be broken down into three objectives: to pursue and punish theShow MoreRelatedOctavian and Marc Antony- The Duel of Words and Deeds1805 Words   |  7 PagesDionysiac cult, which could be found in the East as well as in Italy. By linking oneself with Dionysus, Antony portrayed himself as a divine triumvir, looking to conquer the Orient. This political move was based on popular belief that Dionysus was the god of world conquest, and the blessings of Dionysus included civilization itself. To the people of the East, this connection provided justification why Antony should be revered and followed. Connecting himself with Dionysus also indicated royal power. Since Octavian and Marc Antony- The Duel of Words and Deeds In Greece and Egypt, his identification with Dionysus capitalized on the popular Dionysiac cult, which could be found in the East as well as in Italy. By linking oneself with Dionysus, Antony portrayed himself as a divine triumvir, looking to conquer the Orient. This political move was based on popular belief that Dionysus was the god of world conquest, and the blessings of Dionysus included civilization itself. To the people of the East, this connection provided justification why Antony should be revered and followed. Connecting himself with Dionysus also indicated royal power. Since Alexander himself was bound up with Dionysus, and his predecessors, the Hellenistic kings would displayed themselves as the wine god (by taking his dress and acting in his likeness), Antony proclaimed he was the successor of the Hellenistic kings, and therefore the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. To the East, this deification through Dionysus justified Antonys connection to Cleopatra and his right to rule. In combination with enhancement of this image through deification and mythological ties, Antony launched a fierce verbal campaign against Octavian to illegitimate his rule. Suetonius The Lives of the Caesars- The Deified Augustus, pays testament to Antonys craftiness and versatility. One of the earliest tactics used by Antony was scorning the maternal and paternal family of Octavian. In Roman culture, family name was essential for public respect and public office. Especially for theShow MoreRelatedOctavian and Marc Antony- The Duel of Words and Deeds1091 Words   |  4 PagesOctavian and Marc Antony- The Duel of Words and Deeds Following the Julius Caesars death at the hands of the Senate, Octavian and Marc Antony propelled themselves to the pinnacle of Roman power. First joining together during the Second Triumvirate, these men represented the true power players of Roman politics. As their alliance fractured, both Romans resorted to propaganda to gain an edge over the other. Through insulting the other and polishing their own image, both Antony and Octavian looked