book 6

• Aeneas vows to to build a temple of solid marble to Phoebus Apollo - As Augustus has just done
• purpose of the pageant of heroes is to show Aeneas how great the Romans will be, by focusing on the greatest characters in Rome's history
• several references relate directly to Augustus
• the oak wreaths (awarded to Romans who had saved citizen's life in battle) may be a reminder that Augustus had been honoured with a civic crown of oak leaves as a perpetual honour in 27 BC
• straight after Romulus, Augustus is mentioned
• the juxtaposition of Augustus and Romulus emphasises his importance
• Augustus has founded a 'new' Rome at peace
• he is the 'son of a god' - either through Venus or JC (deified)
• he will bring back the golden years - praise for the Augustan Peace
• 'the Indians and the Garamentes' - embassies from kings in India were frequently sent to me - never been seen with any Roman commander before (res gestae)
• the 'kingdoms around the Caspian Sea' - Augustus recovering the standards from the Parthians
• 'quaking at the prophecies' - Suetonius says they were prodigies before the birth of Augustus - sign he was no ordinary person
• 'mouths of the Nile' - reference to victory over MA and Cleopatra
• 'I added Egypt to the empire of the Roman people' - res gestae
• comparison of Augustus with Hercules and Bacchus is obvious flattery
• the Drusi are mentioned - perhaps family of Livia, wife of Augustus
• the father and son-in-law are JC and Pompey
• reference to the civil wars is a reminder that JC beat Pompey and Augustus brought an end to the civil wars
• Anchises sats that the tasks of the Romans is to govern the people of the world with their empire: endorsement of Augustus' power?
• impose a settled pattern among peace, to pardon the defeated and war down the proud
• great prominence is given to Marcellus, because he is a favourite nephew and heir of Augustus
• Augustus' mausoleum is included to glorify Augustus