What's in a Name?

Imperial Image

In this course, Dr Hannah Cornwell (University of Birmingham) explores Augustus' self-presentation and management of public opinion during his reign as Emperor. In the first module, we explore the evolution of Augustus' names, from his birth name of Gaius Octavius Thurinus to the title of Augustus itself, awarded to him by the Senate in 27 BC. In the second module, we think about the ways in which Augustus presented himself as a great military leader, before turning in the third module to his image from a the point of view of Roman religion. In the fourth module, we think about how Augustus promoted the view of a new Golden Age, focusing in particular on the revival of the Secular Games, before moving on in the fifth module to look at Augustus' self-presentation as Pater Patriae, 'Father of the State', and his reforms relating to marriage and adultery.

What's in a Name?

In this module, we think about how Augustus' names and titles evolved over the course of his life and career, from his birth name of Gaius Octavius Thurinus to the honorific title of Augustus.