Julius Caesar

Ovid’s portrayal of Julius Caesar in the Fasti will be dealt with against the background of controversy recently raised about the posthumous role assigned Caesar in the reign of his heir. Critics have long noted the low profile accorded Julius by Augustan poets, and have long suspected that the initiative for this proceeded directly from Augustus himself. The critic lending greatest currency to this view is Sir Ronald Syme, who repeatedly stated that, after Actium, Caesar’s heir, having become undisputed master of Rome, began to dissociate himself from his father as he sought to establish the appearance of continuity with a legitimate government, avowing Republican rather than absolutist ideals. In consequence, Julius’ claims gradually began to recede and lose ground. It is for this reason that Caesar attracted so little attention in the poetry of the age, the principal record of Augustus’ manipulation of opinion on the subject.

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